Current Trends in the Assessment of Patients with Tinnitus and the Proposal of Tinnitus Assessment in Korea.
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2014.57.10.671
- Author:
Jiwon CHANG
1
;
Tae Su KIM
;
Eui Cheol NAM
;
In Seok MOON
;
Moo Kyun PARK
;
Shi Nae PARK
;
Hun Yi PARK
;
Jae Hyun SEO
;
Yong Hwi AN
;
Jeong Hun JANG
;
June CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Assessment;
Korea;
Questionnaire;
Tinnitus
- MeSH:
Audiometry;
Audiometry, Speech;
Diagnosis;
Electronic Mail;
Hematologic Tests;
Humans;
Korea;
Physical Examination;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Temporal Bone;
Tinnitus*
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2014;57(10):671-686
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effective management of tinnitus should start with an accurate diagnosis, but no concensus has been developed in Korea concerning how to measure the features of tinnitus. This study surveyed otologists in the training hospitals and hospitals specialized in otologic care in Korea to identify the current status in the assessment of patients with tinnitus. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The questionnaire on the assessment of tinnitus was sent by email to otologists in training and to specialized hospitals specializing in otologics in Korea. The questionnaire included inquiry about various types of tests conducted, such as the audiologic test, tinnitus test, blood test, radiologic test, and the methods of history taking and physical examination for somatic tinnitus. RESULTS: Regarding the audiologic assessment of tinnitus, all the otologist were using pure tone audiometry, 97% speech audiometry, and 87% tinnitus test. For the psychophysical measure of tinnitus, both loudness and pitch matching were conducted by all the otologists. The performance rate of blood test were 38.5%, and the most preferred radiologic test in pulsatile tinnitus was temporal bone computed tomography (59%). Finally, the rate of investigation including the history taking and physical examination of somatic tinnitus was between 74-84%. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that although the tests perfermed by otologists varied, the essential tests for assessing tinnitus were commonly practiced. We analyzed the current status of tinnitus assessment and supplemented guidlines to help measure tinnitus. Further concensus on tinnitus diagnosis is needed, particularly about the standadized and unified principles.
