Emilie Cardon1, Laure Jacquemin1,2, Griet Mertens1,2, Paul Van de Heyning1,2, Olivier M Vanderveken1,2, Vedat Topsakal1,2, Willem De Hertogh3, Sarah Michiels1,2,3, Vincent Van Rompaey1,2, Annick Gilles1,2,4. 1. Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Campus Drie Eiken, Antwerp University, Antwerp. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem. 3. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk. 4. Department of Education, Health & Social Work, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Many tinnitus patients report cognitive deficits such as concentration and attention difficulties. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess cognitive functioning in tinnitus patients using a standardized test battery, the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status adjusted for hearing impaired individuals (RBANS-H). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight chronic tinnitus patients and 28 control participants, matched for sex, age, hearing loss, and education level. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All participants completed the RBANS-H, which includes subtests probing immediate and delayed memory, visuospatial capabilities, language, and attention. The tinnitus patients completed the tinnitus functional index (TFI), a visual analogue scale (VAS) measuring subjective mean tinnitus loudness and the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ). RESULTS: The total RBANS-H scores did not differ between tinnitus patients and controls. However, on the language subscale, mean scores of the tinnitus group (97.6 ± 11.0) were significantly lower than those of controls (104.4 ± 12.0), with correction for sex, age, hearing level, and education level (general linear model: p = 0.034). Post hoc t tests revealed a specific deficit concerning the semantic fluency subtest (tinnitus: 19.5 ± 6.2; control: 23.1 ± 5.9; p = 0.015). VAS scores for tinnitus loudness were negatively correlated to scores on the RBANS-H attention subscale (r = -0.48, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The current study successfully employed the RBANS-H to provide a broader view on cognitive functioning in tinnitus patients. The results showed a specific negative influence of tinnitus on verbal fluency, which could be related to a deficit in executive cognitive control. Moreover, patients experiencing louder tinnitus performed worse on specific subtests concerning attention.
OBJECTIVE: Many tinnituspatients report cognitive deficits such as concentration and attention difficulties. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess cognitive functioning in tinnituspatients using a standardized test battery, the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status adjusted for hearing impaired individuals (RBANS-H). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight chronic tinnituspatients and 28 control participants, matched for sex, age, hearing loss, and education level. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All participants completed the RBANS-H, which includes subtests probing immediate and delayed memory, visuospatial capabilities, language, and attention. The tinnituspatients completed the tinnitus functional index (TFI), a visual analogue scale (VAS) measuring subjective mean tinnitus loudness and the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ). RESULTS: The total RBANS-H scores did not differ between tinnituspatients and controls. However, on the language subscale, mean scores of the tinnitus group (97.6 ± 11.0) were significantly lower than those of controls (104.4 ± 12.0), with correction for sex, age, hearing level, and education level (general linear model: p = 0.034). Post hoc t tests revealed a specific deficit concerning the semantic fluency subtest (tinnitus: 19.5 ± 6.2; control: 23.1 ± 5.9; p = 0.015). VAS scores for tinnitus loudness were negatively correlated to scores on the RBANS-H attention subscale (r = -0.48, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The current study successfully employed the RBANS-H to provide a broader view on cognitive functioning in tinnituspatients. The results showed a specific negative influence of tinnitus on verbal fluency, which could be related to a deficit in executive cognitive control. Moreover, patients experiencing louder tinnitus performed worse on specific subtests concerning attention.
Authors: Emilie Cardon; Iris Joossen; Hanne Vermeersch; Laure Jacquemin; Griet Mertens; Olivier M Vanderveken; Vedat Topsakal; Paul Van de Heyning; Vincent Van Rompaey; Annick Gilles Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 3.240