Untersuchung von möglichen Einflussfaktoren für eine Tinnitusexazerbation nach Cochlea Implantation im Langzeitverlauf

Introduction: This prospective study aims to identify factors that may influence the long-term worsening of tinnitus following cochlear implant (CI) surgery. Variables examined included gender, preoperative residual hearing, duration of deafness, aetiology of hearing impairment, cochlear height, and the depth and angle of CI electrode insertion.

Methods: 65 patients were examined preoperatively, 2 days, 4 weeks, 12 and 24 months after CI implantation. Gender, duration of deafness and etiology were recorded anamnestically. Residual hearing was determined using PTA-4 in the tone threshold audiogram. Cochlear height, insertion depth and angle were measured using postoperative digital volume tomography. Tinnitus exacerbation was assessed using the visual analog scale and the tinnitus questionnaire.

Results: The tinnitus burden is significantly reduced in the course of CI treatment. Overall, 28% of patients showed an increase in tinnitus on the 2nd postoperative day, 26% after 4 weeks and 17% after 1 year. None of the investigated factors gender, residual hearing, duration of deafness, etiology of hearing impairment, cochlear height, insertion depth or insertion angle showed an increased risk of tinnitus exacerbation.

Discussion: Distributive and morphological factors showed no significant influence on tinnitus exacerbation after cochlea implantation. However, tinnitus improves significantly over time. Possible further influencing factors such as psychological comorbidity should be investigated in further studies on tinnitus development after CI.

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