Enhanced 40 and 80 Hz Auditory Steady State Responses in Idiopathic Tinnitus

Objectives This study aimed to investigate changes in auditory processing using auditory steady state responses (ASSR) in patients with idiopathic tinnitus.

19 tinnitus patients and 23 control subjects without tinnitus were examined with multiple ASSR. Three modulation frequencies of 20, 40, and 80 HZ were tested and the steady state responses were compared between tinnitus and control group. Further, the thresholds in ipsi- and contralateral side to ear with tinnitus were compared.

Our findings showed no significant difference in ASSR thresholds in ipsi- and contralateral side in tinnitus patients. However, we observed enhanced ASSRs at 40 and 80 Hz modulations in patients with idiopathic tinnitus compared to no-tinnitus control subjects.

The results of this study suggest possible sensory deficits along higher order auditory regions in patients with idiopathic tinnitus. Further, our data indicates a bilateral involvement of auditory pathway in these regions in patients with lateralized tinnitus. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Clinical Protocols https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31115686/ Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding. Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethics committee/IRB of Iran University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences gave ethical approval for this work. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Data Availability All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors.