The consequences of tinnitus and tinnitus severity on cognition: a review of the behavioural evidence.

The consequences of tinnitus and tinnitus severity on cognition: a review of the behavioural evidence.
Hear Res. 2015 Oct 30;
Authors: Mohamad N, Hoare D, Hall DA
Abstract
People with tinnitus report anecdotal difficulties in mental concentration and psychological treatments for tinnitus advise on concentration difficulties and how to manage them. Yet the literature lacks any coherent discussion about what precise theoretical cognitive constructs might be mediating reported concentration problems. This review addresses this gap by describing and critically appraising the behavioural evidence for the effects of tinnitus on cognitive performance (namely working memory and attention). Empirical evidence is somewhat limited, but there is some support that tinnitus interferes with executive attention, and mixed support that it impairs working memory and selective attention. We highlight a number of methodological considerations to help drive the field forward and we propose a putative model of the complex inter-relationships between tinnitus, cognition and confounding factors. This model provides a basis for hypothesis testing.
PMID: 26523370 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Hearing Research - October 30, 2015 Category: Audiology Authors: Mohamad N, Hoare D, Hall DA Tags: Hear Res Source Type: research