Mohammad Shakil Razi, Sofia Jaffer, Balwant Singh Gendeh.
Tinnitus in Malaysia.
Pak J Otolaryngol Jan ;20(2):27-30.

This study was conducted in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), in collaboration with the department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery UKM. Over a period of two years, a total of 72 adult subjects between 28 and 53 years, with a history of tinnitus, were examined and investigated. This sample included 60 males and 12 females. The relationship between audiological, psychological and psychosomatic factors (self-assessment of perceived severity of tinnitus) was investigated in 72 subjects. Audiological descriptives comprised pure-tone average (dB HL), duration of tinnitus and its localisation. Perceived severity of tinnitus was assessed with a questionnaire focusing on tinnitus impact on aspects of quality of life, concentration and sleep. In addition to routine medical check up, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and tinnitus matching for intensity and frequency was carried out. Results supported findings from earlier research indicated that tinnitus did indeed exert an impact on suffere`s life. Tinnitus was found to affect people from all walks of life (professionals, skilled/unskilled workers, house wives and students etc). Its prevalence was higher in the higher age group. In 15% cases it was always present. Half the patients mentioned that it started suddenly without any cause. Almost 40% cases lateralized their tinnitus to the left ear. Lateralization of tinnitus was related to and concided with the level of hearing loss i.e., tinnitus was commonly reported in the ear with worse hearing levels. The loudness level of tinnitus was found to be 4-7 dB, SPL at the matching frequency or the frequency close to it. Tinnitus was soft in 44% of cases and too loud in 6% subjects. Of the 63%, who were annoyed of it, 56% of them reported the level of annoyance to be slight. Around 33% subjects did not know what triggers their tinnitus, 17% felt it was due to medicines, 15% blamed stress at home, 17% thought of pressure at work. A few precipitating factors were also identified. They included, quietness (78%), stress (74%), depression (70%), and tiredness (78%). Description of the nature of tinnitus sound was wide. Tinnitus reportedly affected every aspect of patient`s life, (family life 21%, social life 17%, work efficiency 14%, sleep disturbance 21%). Almost 51% of the sufferers were worried about their job. All these collectively affected the quality of patient`s life.

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