Can Different Underlying Pathophysiology of Hearing Loss Impact the Effects of Hearing Aids on Decreasing Tinnitus Annoyance and Improving Sleep Quality in Tinnitus Sufferers?

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus is a common and often distressing symptom, affecting up to 80% of individuals with hearing loss. It can significantly impair emotional well-being, sleep quality, and overall quality of life. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of hearing aids in reducing tinnitus annoyance and improving sleep among patients with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and presbycusis. Given the different underlying pathophysiology in these conditions, their responses to amplification may differ.

Methods: Seventy adults participated, including 35 patients aged 20-40 years with NIHL and 35 aged 50-65 years with presbycusis. Participants completed the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires before and 6 months after consistent hearing aid use. Outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.

Results: Significant improvements in overall TFI scores and most subscales were observed in both groups after hearing aid use. Participants with NIHL initially reported more severe tinnitus than those with presbycusis (53.77 and 48.16, respectively); however, the postintervention results were nearly identical in both groups (30.56 in NIHL group and 30.05 in presbycusis group), which indicates a higher degree of improvement in the NIHL group with P values smaller than .001 when comparing pre- and post-intervention scores. The ISI scores also decreased in both groups, reflecting improved sleep, though changes were less marked than those seen in tinnitus severity.

Conclusion: Hearing aids can effectively reduce tinnitus-related distress and improve sleep in individuals with different types of hearing loss. While both groups benefited, those with presbycusis reported milder symptoms overall, possibly due to greater adaptation to chronic hearing changes.

Cite this article as: Nasab MS, Javanbakht M, Lotfi Y, Vahedi M. Can different underlying pathophysiology of hearing loss impact the effects of hearing aids on decreasing tinnitus annoyance and improving sleep quality in tinnitus sufferers? Balkan ORL-HNS 2025;2(3):74-81.