Generally: what is the effect of tinnitus on the auditory attention filter?A measurement of the effect of tinnitus enables us:a) to measure the extent of attention on tinnitusb) to reduce the attention on tinnitus by evoking attention to a tone with…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Hearing disorders
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Detection performance for target tones with varying frequencies, presented
with- and without a cue.
The following differences in detection performance are relevant to this study:
- differences in performance at the cue frequency and at a different frequency
- differences in performance at the tinnitus frequency and at a different
frequency
- differences in performance at the cue frequency and at the tinnitus frequency
- differences in performance at the cue frequency in conditions with- and
without a cue
The abovementioned differences in target detection performance will be
compared between tinnitus patients and age-matched controls.
Secondary outcome
In tinnitus patients:
- the perceived severity of the tinnitus, as indicated by the tinnitus patient
on the VAS (Visual Analog Scale) both before and after the experiments.
Background summary
Tinnitus is the perception of meaningless sound in the absence of an external
or internal acoustic stimulus. It is estimated that as of 2009, 50 million
adults in the US have experienced tinnitus in their lives, of which 16 million
adults frequently experience tinnitus. Tinnitus can be so annoying and
disabling that 1-5% of the population seeks medical care, while an effective
treatment has yet to be found. Evidence exists to suggest that individuals with
tinnitus perceive tinnitus-related distress as less severe when less attention
is dedicated to the tinnitus-signal. Furthermore, individuals with monolateral
tinnitus (tinnitus in one ear) are reported to have more attentional resources
directed to the tinnitus-affected ear than to the other ear. These findings
suggest that attention is directed towards the tinnitus and, correlated with
this, increases tinnitus-related distress.
Study objective
Generally: what is the effect of tinnitus on the auditory attention filter?
A measurement of the effect of tinnitus enables us:
a) to measure the extent of attention on tinnitus
b) to reduce the attention on tinnitus by evoking attention to a tone with a
frequency that differs from the tinnitus frequency
Study design
Observational non-invasive study with a between- and within-subject design. In
psychophysical experiments subjects will be asked to detect a pure tone in a
background of noise. The tone is presented in one of two intervals and the
subjects has to indicate in which of the two intervals the tone is heard. The
ratio of sound levels of tone and noise is chosen such that the tone is
detected on 79% of the presentations (chance level is 50%). By presenting prior
to the two intervals a clearly audible tone with a fixed frequency (cue tone)
attention is steered towards that frequency. The psychophysical data will be
compared between tinnitus patients and healthy controls, and within subjects
(attentional modulation of tone detection in background of noise).
Adults will participate in four psychophysical experiments:
1) no cue tone. Using an adaptive staircase method the signal-to-noise ratio of
sound levels of tone and noise will be determined which yields a 79% correct
detection score. This will be done for 6 frequencies (3 lower, and 3 higher,
around tinnitus frequency)
2) no cue tone. Detection is measured at 8 frequencies around the tinnitus
frequency.
3) Cue tone is 1 kHz. Detection is measured at 7 frequencies around 1 kHz.
4) Cue tone is somewhat below tinnitus frequency (Fcue=0.77*Ftin). Detection
is measured at the same 8 frequencies as in 2nd experiment.
Study burden and risks
The experiment involves listening tasks via a headphone, as in a standard
clinical audiometry. Tones are presented in a background of noise. The subject
indicates by pressing a key in which of two intervals a tone is perceived.
Sound levels used are at comfortable level set by participant. The experiments
are carried out in three sessions at separate days. Each session will take
60-75 minutes, excluding breaks. Tinnitus patients will be asked to indicate
magnitude of the tinnitus on a visual analog scale (VAS).
The risk of participation is negligible and the burden is low.
Participants do not directly benefit from the research project since a
therapeutic effect is not expected. Research is group related, meaning that the
research question can not be answered without participation of the population
to which the research question is applicable (patients with tinnitus).
Postbus 85500
3508 GA Utrecht
NL
Postbus 85500
3508 GA Utrecht
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Healthy controls:
- age: 18 - 65 years
- hearing: threshold for individual frequencies <= 20 dB above normal; thresholds averaged over 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz <= 15 dB above normal;Patients:
- tonal tinnitus, with pitch being clinically matched, with an accuracy of <10%
- unilateral tinnitus (left or right ear)
- a matched tinnitus pitch of 2-8 kHz
- age:18 - 65 years
Exclusion criteria
Healthy controls:
- tinnitus: Positive diagnosis of tinnitus ;Patients:
- use of hearing aid or tinnitus masker
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL37337.041.11 |