Abstract

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between tinnitus and stress factors including anxiety in elementary school students.
STUDY DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey in 940 students aged from 10 to 12 years. Data on 928 students were collected. The questionnaire comprised 96 questions that were classified into six categories: subjects' symptoms, stress factors, State Anxiety (transitory emotional condition characterized by feeling of tension and apprehension) Inventory for Children (SAIC), Trait Anxiety (general tendency to respond with anxiety to environmental threat) Inventory for Children (TAIC), visual analog scale of tinnitus, and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).
RESULTS
Four hundred thirty-five students (46.9%) had experienced tinnitus more than once, and 41 (4.4%) suffered from it continuously. Self-perception of hearing loss, dizziness, headache, and concerns about obesity had significant differences between tinnitus and nontinnitus groups, whereas other stress factors did not show any difference. TAIC scores showed statistically significant differences according to the frequency of tinnitus in children experiencing tinnitus, whereas SAIC scores did not. Annoyance, influence on daily life, disturbance of sleep, and study by tinnitus and THI scores showed significant differences according to the frequency of tinnitus.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirms that many children are aware of tinnitus and that they may be susceptible to stressful environments. In particular, trait anxiety may be associated with tinnitus. Because both tinnitus and anxiety can affect the daily lives and health of children-as with adults-a detailed strategy for the management of tinnitus in children should be established.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Kim YH, Jung HJ, Kang SI, Park KT, Choi JS, Oh SH, Chang SO

Institution

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul National University, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. yhkiment@gmail.com

Source

The Laryngoscope 122:10 2012 Oct pg 2279-84

MeSH

Anxiety
Causality
Child
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Dizziness
Female
Headache
Hearing Loss
Humans
Korea
Male
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Self Concept
Sex Distribution
Sex Factors
Stress, Psychological
Tinnitus

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22886845