Final Exam Flashcards
what is tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound occurring in the ear or head when no external sound is present
Phantom auditory perception
It is a symptom, not a disease/disorder
what are the theories of peripheral mechanisms
cellular mechanisms
edge theory
discordant damage of IHC & OHC
tectorial membrane displacement
NTs & receptors
Synaptopathy
what are the theories of central mechanisms
auditory deprivation
inhibitory gating mechanism
hyperactivity & hypersynchrony
neural crosstalk
MOC dysfunction
complex sensory network that allows our brain to perceive and interpret sensations from the body
Somatosensory mechanisms
triggers for tinnitus of Somatosensory mechanisms
temporomandibular joint syndrome or whiplash
Anything related to the head and neck
what is the limbic system
Involved in our behavioral and emotional responses - feeding, reproduction, caring for our young, and fight or flight responses
what is the limbic systems role in tinnitus perception
Mediates the emotional response to tinnitus
Those with strong emotional responses often show enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity - fight or flight response
When it is heard there is a reaction and the reaction is controlled by this system and it can make it worse which explains why some cannot ignore it while others can
what can make the tinnitus worse in regards to the limbic system
Anatomical or physiological abnormalities in the limbic system - lead to emotional reactions to the tinnitus
if there is any lesion or damage, limbic system will not block the tinnitus signal meaning that all of it reaches the cortex and perceived causing it to be loud and clear
Greater brain connectivity between auditory and limbic areas =
more distress levels
subjective tinnitus
most common
heard only by the PT
can be bothersome or nonbothersome
common causes of subjective tinnitus
Ototoxicity - high-pitched sound
Meniere’s - LF tinnitus with vertigo & HL that fluctuates
OTSC - high-pitched, white noise and can initially be pulsatile
ototoxicity tinnitus
high pitched
meniere’s tinnitus
LF tinnitus with vertigo & HL that fluctuates
OTSC tinnitus
high-pitched
often white noise
can initially begin as pulsatile
how does OTSC cause tinnitus
CHL causing deafferentation (reduced auditory information going to the brain)
Reduction of masking effect - ex if you cover your ears you miss hearing the environmental noise
Environmental noise can mask the tinnitus but if you have CHL this is not the case so you hear it more
Rich blood supply causing pulsatile
Arteriovenous malformations
Cochlear tinnitus caused by toxic enzymes produced by otosclerotic bone, bony invasion of the cochlea, and damage to the cochlear blood supply
What is the common description of tinnitus reported by patients with otosclerosis?
Usually the first symptom noted is pulsatile in nature.
Tinnitus is a common symptom in otosclerosis patients and sometimes it can appear as the first symptom, explain.
If tinnitus is the initial symptom, it suggests that the patient hasn’t yet experienced conductive hearing loss. This means there’s no auditory deprivation triggering the brain to compensate for the reduced auditory input.
objective tinnitus
heard by the PT and examiner; sounds generated within the body and can be audible to another person
Rare
Vascular or mechanical in origin - Usually due to vascular disturbances or muscular spasms in the head/neck
causes of objective tinnitus
Glomus tumors
ME muscle spasms
Palatal myoclonus
ETD
acute vs chronic tinnitus
acute - short duration, <6 mos, associated w/ recent exposure triggers, high chance of spontaneous recovery
chronic - persistent, >6mos, involved in sustained neurobiological changes, less chance of spontaneous recovery
bothersome vs nonbothersome tinnitus
bothersome - significantly impacts quality of life
nonbothersome - has minimal impact
primary tinnitus
Tinnitus that is idiopathic & may or may not be associated with SNHL (source is unknown)
If we do not know the cause or disorder that caused it
secondary tinnitus
Tinnitus that is associated with a specific underlying cause (other than SNHL) or an identifiable organic condition
If we do know the cause of the tinnitus
auditory and non-auditory cauess of secondary tinnitus
Auditory causes: impacted cerumen, ME diseases, cochlear abnormalities, auditory nerve pathology
Non-auditory causes: vascular anomalies, myoclonus, intracranial hypertension, tonic tensor tympani syndrome, TMJ disorder
pulsatile tinnitus
characterized by the sound that is rhythmic and resembles the heartbeat
somatosensory tinnitus
Tinnitus caused or influenced by sensory input in the body
apply pressure or clench jaw etc. and they notice the tinnitus
Somatic and pulsatile could be classified as secondary because we know what is causing it
true
what are ways to classify tinnitus
temporal characteristics, duration, impact
what are temporal characteristics
how often they experience the tinnitus
broken down into spontaneous, temporary, occasional, intermittent & constant
spontaneous
sudden sound, usually unilateral lasting 2-3 min
temporary
lasts minutes to days often after noise exposure or medications and can accompany TTS
occasional
occurs less than weekly (e.g., every few weeks, months or every few months) and lasts at least 5 minutes
intermittent
occurring regularly (daily or weekly) and lasts at least 5 minutes
constant
continuous sound
what is duration
how long you had it
classified:
recent/acute: experienced less than 6 months
persistent/chronic: experienced for >/= 6 months
impact
how does it affect their life or interfere
classified: bothersome or nonbothersome
pulsatile tinnitus
In synch with the heartbeat
Rhythmical noise usually the same beat as the heart
Usually caused by blood flow changes near the ear or by a change in awareness of blood flow
whooshing sound
causes of pulsatile tinnitus
Hypertension
Hyperthyroidism
Vascular stenosis
Unilateral head or neck pain with abrupt tinnitus onset = carotid dissection
Tinnitus intensity changes with head movement = venous source
how to determine if it is pulsatile tinnitus
Complete audio testing - comprehensive audio, tymps, reflexes
DPOAEs
Find pulse to determine if pulsing matches tinnitus
Tinnitus of venous origin can be suppressed by compressing the jugular vein
Use 2 fingers to press firmly on SCM muscle & carotid artery for 10 sec. On the right and left sides of the neck
Ask PT if pulsing changes in any way (may stay, go away or change to a different sound)
If it does change, refer for medical workout of vascular pathways
glomus jugulare symptoms
HL is the main presentation - unilateral CHL or mixed
Pulsatile tinnitus (decreases when you push on carotid), vertigo, otorrhea, CN involvement
Red ™ - rising sun appearance
what is clicking tinnitus
Rare
Can be objective; somatosounds
Not all are detectable by examiner
appears to be due to contractions of the tensor tympani or the nasopharyngeal muscles controlling the patency of the ET
Or a symptom of ME myoclonus (jerking of a muscle group)
Bilateral clicking = palatal myoclonus
bilateral clicking
palatal myoclonus
clinical manifestations of clicking tinnitus
May be seen on tymps
Detectable using ARTs or decay
Reflexes sometimes are too short
Have PT tap their leg when they hear it and look for corresponding results to the taps
how to find clicking tinnitus
Have PT tap their leg when they hear it and look for corresponding results to the taps on reflex decay
should you refer for clicking or pulsatile tinnitus
yes
clinical manifestations of somatosensory tinnitus
Normal hearing
Symptoms - High-pitched constant ringing
No other hearing or vestibular complaints & neurological exams show no abnormalities
how to determine if it is SS tinnitus
different maneuvers and holding for 5-10s
Temporomandibular joint
Have PT clench their jaw for 10 s. Any change in tinnitus?
Have PT open jaw wide/protrude jaw for at least 5s. Any change in tinnitus?
Maneuvers involving the neck
Active neck movements - with and without resistance
Passive muscular palpation in order to search for myofascial trigger points (MTP) or tender points
Characteristics/Causes of SS tinnitus
Muscle tension, TMJ/jaw issues, dental disorders, head injuries, cervical spine issues, chronic stress, teeth clenching, etc
tinnitus red flags to refer for
Pulsatile tinnitus
Tinnitus in association with vertigo
Unilateral tinnitus or hearing loss
Examination showing abnormalities of the ears
Tinnitus in association with asymmetric hearing loss
Psychological distress
Significant associated sleep/concentration problems
Anxiety regarding possible underlying pathology
Distressing tinnitus not improving, despite initial treatment
Patient request for ENT/audiological assessment
Tinnitus in association with significant neurological symptoms
An 87-year-old woman had a year of intermittent severe hissing tinnitus that could be left ear only or bilateral. It followed a cyclical pattern. Following a day or two of no tinnitus, it would begin softly in the left ear but over the next two days become progressively louder as it spread to both ears. It would then lessen over the next two days or so, until the tinnitus was heard only in the left ear and ultimately would disappear completely. She had a long history of bruxism and muscle contraction headaches (tightness over her temples and jaw). When her tinnitus was severe her headaches were severe.
Her audiogram showed symmetric mild sloping to moderately severe SNHL, bilaterally.
At a visit when her tinnitus was extremely loud (10/10) and bilateral, somatic testing was performed.
Her tinnitus loudness decreased to 4/10 and became unilateral (left ear only).
These changes in her tinnitus persisted for the remainder of that visit (20 minutes).
By the next day, her tinnitus had disappeared completely, but the usual cycle then returned within a day or two.
Type: somatosensory (changes intensity when things change - she has jaw problems, clenching causes migraine,s and comes and goes with certain things)
Maneuver relaxed the muscle which is why it could’ve decreased the intensity
A 33-year-old man was seen because of non-lateralized tinnitus. His mother had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer about three weeks earlier, and he had been closely involved with her care. Two days before her death as he was trying to sleep, his tinnitus began. It was described as a high-pitched ringing similar in pitch but much louder than the transient tinnitus he had previously experienced following loud sound exposure. Clenching or turning his head would aggravate his tinnitus. His exam and audiogram were normal. Despite four years of a variety of treatments, his tinnitus has persisted, and he remains distressed. what is the tinnitus & what referrals should be made if any
Type: dishabituation because he experienced tinnitus before and it was gone (occurred due to some change, he habituates and then he is fine and it comes back and the brain perceives it as a new stimulus)
Value of digging into the history of PT
He has normal hearing
Mental health services to deal with the stress and this might change the vicious cycle
Most common sound a patient will report for tinnitus is
ringing
pushing/whoosing
pulsatile
Count the beats you feel and at the same time ask the PT to count the number of tinnitus beats they hear
technique for pulsatile tinnitus
Confirmed with tone decay because it provides a larger time window whereas a reflex is shorter (can se there too) and gives a better chance to see it
Every time you hear the clicking sound tap your foot and watch decay and changes confirm the clicking
clicking tinnitus
Related to muscle spasms, etc.
Do maneuvers to confirm this
Changes tinnitus (can be worse, different tone, different volume, etc.)
Change the head and jaw and have the PT tell whether there is a change in tinnitus
They can protrude the jaw or clench the teeth and ask if there is a change
Can do head movements
somatosensory tinnitus
Objectives of psychoacoustic assessments
Rule out or confirm disease or pathology underlying tinnitus
Document health conditions and factors influencing tinnitus perception
Evaluate auditory function to identify peripheral or central auditory dysfunction associated with mechanisms of tinnitus
Describe and quantify the severity of PT tinnitus
Define impact of tinnitus on quality of life
Contribute to decisions regarding an effective management plan
what is pitch masking and the goal
Estimate the general frequency region of the patient’s perceived tinnitus
Goal: to determine the frequency of a tone or noise that is closest to that of the PT’s most bothersome tinnitus
what should the presentation be for pitch masking
stimuli at 10 – 20 dB SL at frequencies with normal limits
Stimuli at 5 –10 dB SL at frequencies with hearing loss.
where do you present for pitch masking
Start by presenting 1000 & 2000 Hz tone to the “stimulus ear” (contra ear to the ear with tinnitus)
Unilateral tinnitus: present stimulus to the non-tinnitus ear (stimulus ear)
Bilateral tinnitus: present stimulus to the ear with the softest tinnitus. If tinnitus is perceived the same in both ears, test either ear or the ear with the better thresholds.
what is octave confusion
where a person incorrectly identifies the pitch of their tinnitus by choosing a frequency that is either one octave above or below the actual tinnitus pitch.
what is loudness matching & the goal
Obtain loudness match at the pitch-matched frequency
Goal: to determine the loudness of a tone or noise that is closest to that of the PT’s most bothersome tinnitus
where should you start for presentation for loudness matching
Start 5 dB below the AC threshold and then gradually increase the level in 1-dB steps until the patient hears the tone.
what is tinnitus quality match
Tinnitus Matching to Bands of Noise
Determine whether tinnitus sounds like a tone or like noise
what is MML
minimum masking level
what is MML & the goal
Identify the lowest level of BBN that completely masks the tinnitus
Goal: Determine the lowest level of BBN that completely masks the tinnitus (MML).
Determine whether patient’s tinnitus is bilateral or unilateral.
how to present MML
The masking noise should be presented binaurally for patients with bilateral tinnitus, and monaurally for patients with unilateral tinnitus.
what is RI
residual inhibition