Tinnitus
- An auditory sensation that occurs in the absence of external acoustic or electrical stimulus
- Nonspecific symptom of an auditory system abnormality
- Types
- Subjective tinnitus
- Conductive tinnitus
- Obstruction of the ear canal
- Middle ear disease
- Sensorineural tinnitus
- Damage to cochlea
- Damage to cochlear nerve
- Central tinnitus
- Damage to central auditory pathway
- Conductive tinnitus
- Objective tinnitus
- Vascular tinnitus
- Vascular malformations
- AV fistulas
- Myogenic tinnitus
- Velopharyngeal myoclonus
- Middle ear myoclonus
- Vascular tinnitus
- Subjective tinnitus
- Compensated – if it doesn’t compromise life quality
- Decompensated – if it causes disability or suffering
- Worsening factors
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Nicotine
- Sleeping problems
- Classification according to time
- Acute – < 3 months
- Subacute – 4 – 12 months
- Chronic > 12 months
- Diagnosis
- Patient history
- Audiometry
- Neurological examination
- MRi – if unilateral, asymmetric or pulsatile
- Treatment
- IV lidocaine (temporary)
- Tinnitus retraining therapy
- Break link between tinnitus and negative emotions
- Masking with white noise