Tinnitus and cochlear implants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of factors predicting tinnitus outcomes following cochlear implantation
IRAS ID
292855
Contact name
Derek Hoare
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 7 days
Research summary
Many adults with severe or profound hearing loss hear sounds in the head or ears that have no outside source. This condition is called tinnitus. Research studies suggest that in addition to improving hearing abilities for deaf adults, cochlear implantation could also improve tinnitus. However, tinnitus can be still bothersome in some patients after cochlear implantation. This may be because tinnitus has different characteristics and be associated with other symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia. There is little information about tinnitus-related characteristics and symptoms and their potential role in change in tinnitus in patients undergoing cochlear implantation.
The purpose of this study is to address this gap and characterise changes in tinnitus and related characteristics in adults undergoing cochlear implantation to improve our understanding of cochlear implantation as an intervention for tinnitus. The specific question we would like to answer is whether there are meaningful changes in tinnitus outcomes following cochlear implantation.
We will also explore the occurrence, nature, and severity of tinnitus before and after cochlear implantation, and associations between tinnitus and changes in hearing, psychological health, cochlear implantation-related factors, and quality of life in cochlear implant recipients with and without tinnitus.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0140
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion