Relationship between the impact of Tinnitus with Craniofacial and Cervical Disability in individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders.

• Grant number: 23/18373-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Débora Bevilaqua Grossi
• Grantee: Luana Denadai Oliveira Menezes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/00480-0 - Experiences, beliefs and psychosocial factors of individuals with TMD and tinnitus. A qualitative study., BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) is a limiting functional condition in which tinnitus is the most recurrent otologic symptom affecting daily activities. Somatosensory tinnitus is associated with facial and cervical dysfunction, dizziness, and emotional factors such as anxiety and depression. The aim of the present study is to verify the correlation between the impact of tinnitus and craniofacial and cervical disability in individuals with TMD. In addition, the association between the impact of tinnitus with dizziness, anxiety, and depression in these patients will be analyzed. This cross-sectional observational study will recruit 47 individuals with TMD and analyze the impact of tinnitus using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire, craniofacial disability using the Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI), and cervical disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The impact of dizziness will be assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and symptoms of anxiety and depression will be assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data are presented as mean or median, standard deviation or interquartile range, and relative frequencies (%). The correlation between the THI and the CF-PDI, NDI, DHI, and HADS questionnaires will be analyzed using Pearson or Spearman correlation, depending on the normality of the data. It is expected that the data from this study will show a moderate to strong association between tinnitus and the other variables evaluated, demonstrating the association between tinnitus and craniofacial and cervical spine disability, in addition to dizziness and biopsychosocial aspects in individuals with TMD.