The Long-Term Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomized pre-post observational studies.
PubMed 39335707 · doi:10.3390/diagnostics14182028
What was done
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis across PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library through April 30, 2024, supplemented by manual reference searches. Eligible studies evaluated patients with sensorineural hearing loss undergoing cochlear implantation and reported comparative pre- and postoperative scores on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), or Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
What was found
Across 28 studies comprising 853 patients, cochlear implantation showed significant tinnitus improvements: THI mean difference (MD) -14.02 (95% CI -15.29 to -12.76, p < 0.001), TQ MD -15.85 (95% CI -18.97 to -12.74, p < 0.05), and VAS MD -3.12 (95% CI -3.49 to -2.76, p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated significant differences between follow-up periods for THI (p < 0.0001) and VAS loudness (p = 0.02).
Why it matters
The review provides pooled quantitative estimates demonstrating that cochlear implantation reduces tinnitus severity in patients with sensorineural hearing loss, while noting that symptom relief may diminish over time.
Limits
The included studies relied on uncontrolled pre- and postoperative comparisons without randomized control groups. The abstract does not define the specific follow-up durations examined, baseline hearing loss severity, or the proportion of patients whose tinnitus remained unchanged or worsened.