Clinical and Audiologic Characteristics of Tinnitus in Subjects Aged <65 and >65 Years.

OBJECTIVE This study compared the characteristics of tinnitus, by audiologic tests and questionnaires, in older and younger subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medical records of 258 outpatients with tinnitus were retrospectively reviewed. Characteristics compared in subjects aged <65 and >65 years included patient history and the results of physical examinations, questionnaires, and audiologic tests. RESULTS Fifty-nine patients were aged 65 years and older (older group), and 199 were less than 65 years old (younger group). The prevalence of chronic tinnitus was significantly higher in the older group (p<0.05). Assessments of audiologic configuration showed that the rate of high frequency steeply sloping configuration was significantly higher (p<0.05). The rate of sensorineural hearing loss was significantly higher in the older group (p<0.05). On tinnitograms, loudness was significantly higher in the older group (p<0.05). Auditory brainstem responses analysis showed that V latency was longer in the older group (p<0.05). The older group showed lower responses at every frequency on distortion product otoacoustic emissions (p<0.05) and lower signal-to-noise ratio at every frequency on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The clinical manifestations of tinnitus and audiological results differ between older and younger subjects with tinnitus.