A Preliminary Examination of the Roles of Contextual Stimuli and Personality Traits Under the Adaptation Level Theory Model of Tinnitus

作者：Durai M^*; Kobayashi K; Searchfield G D

来源：Acta Acustica United with Acustica, 2015, 101(3): 543-551.

DOI：10.3813/AAA.918851

Objective: This study empirically assessed the validity of a novel psychoacoustic ALT model of tinnitus proposed by Searchfield et al. [1]. Two components of the model were investigated: background noise (context) and personality traits (a single residual component), in an attempt to isolate their effects on tinnitus. Design: Loudness level matches, and rating scales for loudness and distress were obtained before and after 20 minutes of: quiet, Narrow Band Noise (NBN) at threshold level, 10 dB sensation level and 20 dB sensation level. Personality variables were assessed using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire Form NZ (MPQ-Form NZ). Study sample: Twenty participants with chronic tinnitus participated in the study. Results: Tinnitus distress interacted with contextual noise levels in a manner consistent with the ALT model; tinnitus loudness matches to sound did not change. The personality traits of social closeness, positive emotionality, stress reaction and negative emotionality were seen to influence contextual noise-tinnitus interactions. The emergence of 'adaptation-sensitive' and 'adaptation-insensitive' persons was observed. The 20 dB sensation level noise led to the most reduction in tinnitus overall among participants, however this was not statistically significantly greater than the other sound levels. Conclusions: Tinnitus loudness and distress might represent two separate underlying constructs with different adaptation levels. Also, underlying individual differences in adaptation sensitivity may be present.

• 出版日期2015-6