Related Experiment Videos
Pediatric and Geriatric Tinnitus
1Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Department, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, and Technion-B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
Insights
Tinnitus is often overlooked in children and the elderly. This review highlights its prevalence, causes, and treatments in these age groups, emphasizing the need for greater attention to pediatric and geriatric tinnitus.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Audiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Tinnitus in pediatric and geriatric populations is underrepresented in scientific literature.
- Children often do not spontaneously report tinnitus, while it is overshadowed by other health issues in the elderly.
- Presbytinnitus, linked to age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), is classified into two types based on cochlear aging and co-existing conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on tinnitus in children and the elderly.
- To explore the incidence, characteristics, and potential treatments for tinnitus in these specific demographics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on pediatric and geriatric tinnitus.
- Analysis of tinnitus incidence, gender predilection, and correlations with noise exposure and hypertension.
- Review of various treatment modalities for geriatric tinnitus, including sound masking, medication, and surgical interventions.
Main Results:
- Tinnitus affects 11% of individuals with presbycusis, with severity correlating with noise exposure.
- Hypertension was associated with a lower incidence of tinnitus compared to normotension or hypotension.
- Pediatric tinnitus incidence ranges from 13% to 60% depending on audiological status, with behavioral issues noted despite low spontaneous reporting.
Conclusions:
- Tinnitus is prevalent in both pediatric and geriatric populations, though often underreported by children.
- Effective management strategies for geriatric tinnitus include sound masking and specific medical interventions.
- Further research is needed to address the impact and management of tinnitus in these underserved age groups.
Abstract:
The subject of tinnitus in the population extremes-children and the elderly-is ignored by the literature, probably because children do not complain of tinnitus spontaneously, whereas it is only one challenge among other major health problems in the elderly. A short review of the literature on this subject is presented. Presbytinnitus, defined as tinnitus that accompanies the progressive hearing loss of presbycusis is classified as: type 1 (normal aging affecting the cochlea), and type II (preexistent sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by multiple systemic complaints, especially of sensory ones). The incidence of tinnitus in presbycusis is 11%. Like in other age groups, there is no significant gender predilection in the prevalence of tinnitus, but a correlation was demonstrated between the severity of tinnitus and exposure to noise. Hypertension was associated with a lower incidence of tinnitus, as compared to normotension and hypotension. Several treatment modalities of geriatric tinnitus are reviewed: the superiority of the band-noise masker in patients with presbycusis, as compared to electrical promontory stimulation; amino-oxyacetic in presbycusis and Meniere's disease; zinc supplementation in marginally zinc-deficient elderly patients in improving sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus; aeration of the middle ear in presbycusis caused by secretory otitis media. Pediatric tinnitus has an incidence of 13% in children who passed an audiometric screening test, and 23-60% in those with hearing loss, 44% in secretory otitis media, but only 3% complain spontaneously because that the child considers tinnitus to be a normal event. There is no significant difference between children with tinnitus and those without in terms of hearing level, age, gender, or etiology of the deafness. Despite the fact that often children do not mention it, tinnitus may incite behavioral problems.