Clinical, Audiological and Psychological Profiles of Patients with Chronic Subjective Tinnitus: An Observational Study

Background: Chronic subjective tinnitus is a prevalent auditory symptom, often debilitating due to itssubjective nature and the absence of a universal cure. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical, audiological andpsychological profiles of patients with chronic subjective tinnitus with the objective of exploring correlationsbetween tinnitus severity, audiological findings and psychological distress at a tertiary care hospital.Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of 18 months. A total of 100patients with chronic subjective tinnitus participated. Following a thorough clinical history, audiometry andpsychological assessments (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were done. Data wasanalyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and paired t-tests.Results: The majority of participants (61%) had tinnitus for less than a year. Sensorineural hearing loss was themost common audiological finding affecting over 60% of participants. Tinnitus severity correlated withpsychological distress, with 32% reporting a moderate handicap. Sleep disturbances were common with 97%experiencing sleep difficulties and the most common etiologies were sensorineural hearing loss (22%) andpresbycusis (18%).Conclusion: Chronic subjective tinnitus is multifactorial with significant audiological and psychologicalimpacts. Early detection and a holistic approach, combining audiological and psychological interventions arecrucial for improving patient outcomes.