Prevalence of tinnitus following non-blast related traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of literature

Objectives: To establish the prevalence of tinnitus in adults who have sustained non-blast related traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as the prevalence of tinnitus following TBI in the absence of hearing loss. Methods: A systematic search was carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL from January 1st 1990 to August 14th 2023. TBI, tinnitus and auditory findings were extracted from all eligible studies, and a descriptive synthesis performed. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42022377637). Results: Based on the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) (2011) criteria, the highest quality evidence identified was at Level 2b, with the bulk of the included studies predominantly populating the lower evidence tiers. While there was a substantial variability in the methods used to establish and report the presence of tinnitus, its occurrence following TBI was evident in adults with and without hearing loss. Conclusion: The need for prospective, longitudinal research into tinnitus following non-blast related TBI is evident. Such comprehensive studies hold the potential to inform and enhance the clinical diagnosis and management of this patient population.