Tinnitus

Question 1

What is tinnitus?

Answer 1

Perception of sound within the ear or the head when no external sound stimulus present
Ringing, buzzing, hizzing, whistling, humming common

Question 2

What are the 2 subtypes of tinnitus?

Answer 2

Subjective: most common, no acoustic stimulus at all
Objective: there is noise to be heard but it is being generated internally e.g. blood movement

Question 3

What are the causes of tinnitus?

Answer 3

• Idiopathic
• Otological: hearing loss (esp noise induced), presbyacusis, ostosclerosiss)
• Neurological: head injury, MS
• Infections
• Drug related
• TMJ Dysfunction

Question 4

What should you examine in tinnitus?

Answer 4

*Exam of head, neck and jaw

*EAR exam
>Impacted wax
>Carotid bruits
>CN lesions
>Sins of OM

• Arrange formal hearing test
• Consider further imaging
• Assess impact on life

Question 5

What is the management of tinnitus?

Answer 5

• Treat underlying cause if found
• No pharmacological therapy found yet
• Support/counselling

Question 6

What are red flags in tinnitus?

Answer 6

• Any focal neurology

* hearing loss in association