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Review
. 2020 Aug;53(4):481-499.
doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2020.03.002. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Tinnitus: An Epidemiologic Perspective

James A Henry  1 , Kelly M Reavis  2 , Susan E Griest  3 , Emily J Thielman  4 , Sarah M Theodoroff  3 , Leslie D Grush  4 , Kathleen F Carlson  5
Affiliations
Review

Tinnitus: An Epidemiologic Perspective

James A Henry et al. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Tinnitus is commonly referred to as "ringing in the ears." Epidemiologic studies highlight challenges associated with clinical determination of tinnitus and ascertainment of its etiology, functional effects, temporal characteristics, psychoacoustic parameters, and risk factors. Because no standards exist for capturing these factors as measures, direct comparison of data between studies is not possible. This report suggests terminology and definitions to promote standardization, with a brief overview of findings from selected population-based epidemiologic studies. Tinnitus-specific data are presented from the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology study. Further epidemiologic studies are needed to develop tinnitus treatment and a cure for this chronic condition.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Hearing loss; Noise; Ototoxicity; Prevalence; Risk factors; Tinnitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure This work was supported by a Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award (PR121146), a Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program Award (JW160036), and a US VA Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Research Career Scientist Award (1 IK6 RX002990-01). This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (VA RR&D NCRAR Center Award; C9230C) at the VA Portland Health Care System in Portland, Oregon, as well as the United States Department of DefenseHearing Center of Excellence in San Antonio, Texas. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Defense Health Agency, Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. This work was prepared as part of official duties as US Government employees and, therefore, is defined as US Government work under Title 17 U.S.C.§101. Per Title 17 U.S.C.§105, copyright protection is not available for any work of the US Government.

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