The role of hidden hearing loss in tinnitus: Insights from early markers of peripheral hearing damage.

Summary

Building on the animal literature on cochlear synaptopathy, this study examines early, subclinical markers of peripheral hearing damage in humans with tinnitus, using measures beyond the standard audiogram (e.g. extended high-frequency thresholds and auditory-nerve response measures). It provides direct human evidence that peripheral damage undetectable by conventional hearing tests is present in tinnitus patients, complementing the animal-model synaptopathy work.

Key findings

• Early markers of peripheral hearing damage, invisible to the standard audiogram, are detectable in tinnitus patients.
• Provides human evidence complementing animal-model cochlear synaptopathy findings.
• Supports hidden hearing loss as a plausible contributor to tinnitus even with normal audiometric thresholds.