OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible impact of tinnitus on the performance of challenging cognitive tasks. DESIGN: Participants completed the hospital anxiety and depression scale and completed two cognitive tasks: the Vienna determination task and a variant of the Stroop paradigm. In addition, tinnitus sufferers completed the subjective tinnitus severity scale. STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty-three tinnitus sufferers and 33 controls took part in the study (n = 66). RESULTS: Tinnitus sufferers were no more depressed nor anxious than controls, but they performed less well on both cognitive tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Possible causes and implications of these performance decrements are discussed, with particular attention given to the possibility that subjective distress is an important moderating factor in tinnitus sufferers.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible impact of tinnitus on the performance of challenging cognitive tasks. DESIGN:Participants completed the hospital anxiety and depression scale and completed two cognitive tasks: the Vienna determination task and a variant of the Stroop paradigm. In addition, tinnitus sufferers completed the subjective tinnitus severity scale. STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty-three tinnitus sufferers and 33 controls took part in the study (n = 66). RESULTS:Tinnitus sufferers were no more depressed nor anxious than controls, but they performed less well on both cognitive tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Possible causes and implications of these performance decrements are discussed, with particular attention given to the possibility that subjective distress is an important moderating factor in tinnitus sufferers.
Authors: Krysta J Trevis; Chris Tailby; David B Grayden; Neil M McLachlan; Graeme D Jackson; Sarah J Wilson Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2017-11-09 Impact factor: 4.379