Abstract
The role of the auditory brainstem in tinnitus is questionable. This
study aimed comprehensively to assess auditory brainstem responses
(ABRs) in patients suffering from noise-induced tinnitus (NIT). ABRs
were recorded from 13 chronic NIT patients (21 ears) and 11 (21 ears)
age and hearing matched control subjects without tinnitus. ABRs were
recorded with scalp electrodes placed ipsilateral and contralateral
to the stimulated ear, and in three orthonormal differential configurations.
The ABRs were analyzed as a function of time, frequency and voltage
space. A significantly enhanced ipsilaterally recorded, time domain
wave III amplitude was observed for the tinnitus patients. This finding
was not confirmed by any of the other ABR measures, which were indistinguishable
between subject groups. Although this may be a spurious result, it
nonetheless may point to an alteration in the functioning of the
putative wave III auditory brainstem generator, which deserves further
study.
Users
Please
log in to take part in the discussion (add own reviews or comments).