The impact of tinnitus on cognitive performance in normal-hearing individuals.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate whether the previously reported differences in cognitive performance as assessed using a Stroop paradigm between individuals with and without tinnitus is present in normal-hearing individuals. DESIGN Participants completed audiometric evaluation, a visual Stroop test, as well as the Swedish version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaire. In addition individuals with tinnitus participated in a short interview regarding tinnitus characteristics as well as a follow up data collection of the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ). STUDY SAMPLE Forty individuals participated in this study. Twenty had tinnitus (tinnitus group) and 20 had not (control group). The groups were age- and sex-matched and all participants had normal hearing thresholds (20 dB HL or better). RESULTS No differences in terms of cognitive performances were found between individuals with tinnitus compared to individuals without tinnitus. CONCLUSION In contrast to previous studies of hearing-impaired subjects with tinnitus, the results of the present found no signs of cognitive interference in normal-hearing subjects with tinnitus when assessed using intensive short duration tasks.