AND OBJECTIVE: Some patients complain of tinnitus despite having normal conventional audiograms. However, normal audiograms don't exclude the presence of subtle cochlear or neural damage. The study's objective was to assess cochlear function and the cochlear nerve in tinnitus patients with normal audiograms, as well as assessing temporal processing in these patients.
Hidden hearing loss and auditory temporal processing measures may reveal underlying dysfunction in tinnitus patients with normal audiograms, but findings need replication in larger controlled trials before changing clinical evaluation protocols.
Understanding the subclinical cochlear and neural mechanisms behind tinnitus in normal-audiogram patients could lead to better diagnostic tools and targeted treatments for a frustrating condition.
- 01Focuses on tinnitus patients who pass standard hearing tests — a clinically underserved group.
- 02Evaluates hidden hearing loss (cochlear synaptopathy) as a potential tinnitus mechanism.
- 03Auditory temporal processing (the brain's ability to track rapid changes in sound) is assessed.
- 04Findings may support use of electrophysiological tests beyond the standard audiogram in tinnitus workups.
- 05Published in a peer-reviewed otolaryngology/engineering journal.
Hidden hearing loss (cochlear synaptopathy) may underlie tinnitus in patients with normal conventional audiograms.
studypartially supportedAuditory temporal processing is impaired in tinnitus patients despite normal audiometric thresholds.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42285301
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.otoeng.2026.512372.
- Journal
- Otolaryngology and Engineering
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Tinnitus patients with normal conventional audiograms
- Intervention
- Evaluation of cochlear function, hidden hearing loss markers, and auditory temporal processing
Primary outcomes
Cochlear function measures; Hidden hearing loss indicators; Auditory temporal processing performance