Abstract
Background: Stapes surgery is a common method of treatment of otosclerosis, and its effectiveness is reported based on audiometric hearing thresholds. Audiometric tests do not gauge the impact of tinnitus severity and auditory function on quality of life (QOL) after stapes surgery. Objective: To measure self-assessed QOL in otosclerosis patients after stapedotomy in terms of three major factors: change in audiometric hearing threshold, subjective hearing benefit, and tinnitus severity. Method: This prospective clinical study included 191 patients who underwent stapedotomy between April and October 2017 due to otosclerosis. All patients were tested by pure tone audiometry and filled in a questionnaire before surgery and 6 months afterwards. Subjective hearing was assessed with the Abbreviated Profile for Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB); tinnitus severity was established using the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), and the QOL was measured by the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). Results: Statistical analysis showed that the average GBI total score (mean = 33.7; SD = 23.7) was statistically significantly higher than zero (t = 19.7; p < 0.001). Based on a regression model, all the three variables studied – audiometric hearing thresholds change, APHAB change, and TFI change – had a significant effect on QOL after stapedotomy. Interestingly, the highest beta value (b = 0.040; p < 0.001) was for TFI change, implying that TFI change had the greatest effect on QOL. Conclusion: Although the improvement of QOL after stapes surgery undoubtedly depended on improvement in both audiometric and self-reported hearing, the reduction of tinnitus severity had the greatest impact on increase in QOL.
References
1.
2.
Skarżyński
H
. Surgical Treatment of Otosclerosis: Expanding Indications and New Recomendations
. J Hear Sci
. 2018
;8
:9
–12
.2083-389X3.
Lailach
S
, Schenke
T
, Baumann
I
, Walter
H
, Praetorius
M
, Beleites
T
, et al. Living with otosclerosis: disease-specific health-related quality-of-life measurement in patients undergoing stapes surgery
. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
. 2018
Jan
;275
(1
):71
–9
.
[PubMed]
0937-44774.
Monzani
D
, Galeazzi
GM
, Genovese
E
, Marrara
A
, Martini
A
. Psychological profile and social behaviour of working adults with mild or moderate hearing loss
. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital
. 2008
Apr
;28
(2
):61
–6
.
[PubMed]
0392-100X5.
Hallberg
LR
, Hallberg
U
, Kramer
SE
. Self-reported hearing difficulties, communication strategies and psychological general well-being (quality of life) in patients with acquired hearing impairment
. Disabil Rehabil
. 2008
;30
(3
):203
–12
.
[PubMed]
0963-82886.
Cavalcante
AM
, Silva
IM
, Neves
BJ
, Oliveira
CA
, Bahmad
F
Jr. Degree of tinnitus improvement with stapes surgery - a review
. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol
. 2018
Jul - Aug
;84
(4
):514
–8
.
[PubMed]
1808-86867.
Chang
CY
, Cheung
SW
. Tinnitus modulation by stapedectomy
. Otol Neurotol
. 2014
Jul
;35
(6
):1065
–9
.
[PubMed]
1531-71298.
Dewyer
NA
, Kiringoda
R
, Kram
YA
, Chang
JL
, Chang
CY
, Cheung
SW
. Stapedectomy Effects on Tinnitus: Relationship of Change in Loudness to Change in Severity
. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
. 2015
Dec
;153
(6
):1019
–23
.
[PubMed]
0194-59989.
Mazurek
B
, Szczepek
AJ
, Hebert
S
. Stress and tinnitus
. HNO
. 2015
Apr
;63
(4
):258
–65
.
[PubMed]
0017-619210.
11.
Raj-Koziak
D
, Gos
E
, Rajchel
J
, Piłka
A
, Skarżyński
H
, Rostkowska
J
, et al. Tinnitus and Hearing Survey: A Polish Study of Validity and Reliability in a Clinical Population
. Audiol Neurotol
. 2017
;22
(4-5
):197
–204
.
[PubMed]
1420-303012.
Skarzynski
PH
, Raj-Koziak
D
, J Rajchel
J
, Pilka
A
, Wlodarczyk
AW
, Skarzynski
H
. Adaptation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory into Polish and its testing on a clinical population of tinnitus sufferers
. Int J Audiol
. 2017
Oct
;56
(10
):711
–5
.
[PubMed]
1499-202713.
Skarżyński
H
, Gos
E
, Raj-Koziak
D
, Skarżyński
PH
. Skarzynski Tinnitus Scale: validation of a brief and robust tool for assessing tinnitus in a clinical population
. Eur J Med Res
. 2018
Nov
;23
(1
):54
.
[PubMed]
0949-232114.
Wegner
I
, Swartz
JE
, Bance
ML
, Grolman
W
. A systematic review of the effect of different crimping techniques in stapes surgery for otosclerosis
. Laryngoscope
. 2016
May
;126
(5
):1207
–17
.
[PubMed]
0023-852X15.
Lavy
J
, Huins
C
, Khalil
S
, Hall
A
, Hughes
O
. Comparison of Audiometric and Functional Outcomes Between the Standard and Modified 360 Nitinol Shape Memory Stapes Prostheses
. Otol Neurotol
. 2015
Sep
;36
(8
):1317
–20
.
[PubMed]
1531-712916.
Sacristán
JA
. Patient-centered medicine and patient-oriented research: improving health outcomes for individual patients
. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak
. 2013
Jan
;13
(1
):6
.
[PubMed]
1472-694717.
Morzaria
S
, Westerberg
BD
, Anzarut
A
. Quality of life following ear surgery measured by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory
. J Otolaryngol
. 2003
Oct
;32
(5
):323
–7
.
[PubMed]
0381-660518.
Subramaniam
K
, Eikelboom
RH
, Marino
R
, Atlas
MD
, Rajan
GP
. Patient’s quality of life and hearing outcomes after stapes surgery
. Clin Otolaryngol
. 2006
Aug
;31
(4
):273
–9
.
[PubMed]
1749-447819.
Tunkel
DE
, Bauer
CA
, Sun
GH
, Rosenfeld
RM
, Chandrasekhar
SS
, Cunningham
ER
Jr, et al. Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus
. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
. 2014
Oct
;151
(2
Suppl
):S1
–40
.
[PubMed]
0194-599820.
Robinson
K
, Gatehouse
S
, Browning
GG
. Measuring patient benefit from otorhinolaryngological surgery and therapy
. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol
. 1996
Jun
;105
(6
):415
–22
.
[PubMed]
0003-489421.
Meikle
MB
, Henry
JA
, Griest
SE
, Stewart
BJ
, Abrams
HB
, McArdle
R
, et al. The tinnitus functional index: development of a new clinical measure for chronic, intrusive tinnitus
. Ear Hear
. 2012
Mar-Apr
;33
(2
):153
–76
.
[PubMed]
0196-020222.
Cox
RM
, Alexander
GC
. The abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit
. Ear Hear
. 1995
Apr
;16
(2
):176
–86
.
[PubMed]
0196-020223.
Fackrell
K
, Hall
D
, Barry
J
, Hoare
D
. Tools for tinnitus measurement: development and validity of questionnaires to assess handicap and treatment effects. Tinnitus: Causes Treatment and Short and Long-Term Health effects
. New York
: Nova Science Publishers Inc
; 2014
. pp. 13
–60
.24.
Nash
R
, Patel
B
, Lavy
J
. Changes to Hearing Levels Over the First Year After Stapes Surgery: An Analysis of 139 Patients
. Otol Neurotol
. 2018
Aug
;39
(7
):829
–33
.
[PubMed]
1531-712925.
Redfors
YD
, Olaison
S
, Karlsson
J
, Hellgren
J
, Möller
C
. Hearing-related, health-related quality of life in patients who have undergone otosclerosis surgery: a long-term follow-up study
. Int J Audiol
. 2015
Feb
;54
(2
):63
–9
.
[PubMed]
1499-202726.
Danermark
B
, Granberg
S
, Kramer
SE
, Selb
M
, Möller
C
. The creation of a comprehensive and a brief core set for hearing loss using the international classification of functioning, disability and health
. Am J Audiol
. 2013
Dec
;22
(2
):323
–8
.
[PubMed]
1059-088927.
Skarżyński
H
, Gos
E
, Dziendziel
B
, Raj-Koziak
D
, Włodarczyk
EA
, Skarżyński
PH
. Clinically important change in tinnitus sensation after stapedotomy
. Health Qual Life Outcomes
. 2018
Nov
;16
(1
):208
.
[PubMed]
1477-752528.
Riedl
D
, Rumpold
G
, Schmidt
A
, Zorowka
PG
, Bliem
HR
, Moschen
R
. The influence of tinnitus acceptance on the quality of life and psychological distress in patients with chronic tinnitus
. Noise Health
. 2015
Sep-Oct
;17
(78
):374
–81
.
[PubMed]
1463-174129.
Drexler
D
, López-Paullier
M
, Rodio
S
, González
M
, Geisinger
D
, Pedemonte
M
. Impact of reduction of tinnitus intensity on patients’ quality of life
. Int J Audiol
. 2016
;55
(1
):11
–9
.
[PubMed]
1499-202730.
Rocha
AV
, Mondelli
MF
. Applicability of the real ear measurement for audiological intervention of tinnitus
. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol
. 2018
Aug
;•••
:S1808-8694(18)30574-3
.
[PubMed]
1808-868631.
Negrila-Mezei
A
, Enache
R
, Sarafoleanu
C
. Tinnitus in elderly population: clinic correlations and impact upon QoL
. J Med Life
. 2011
Nov
;4
(4
):412
–6
.
[PubMed]
1844-311732.
Zeman
F
, Koller
M
, Langguth
B
, Landgrebe
M
; Tinnitus Research Initiative database study group
. Which tinnitus-related aspects are relevant for quality of life and depression: results from a large international multicentre sample
. Health Qual Life Outcomes
. 2014
Jan
;12
(1
):7
.
[PubMed]
1477-7525© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel
2019
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.
