Effects of tinnitus on posture: a study of electrical tinnitus suppression

We investigated the effects of tinnitus on postural responses using posturography. Thirty-three tinnitus patients (19 female and 14 male) ranging in age from 33 to 67 years (mean age, 53) were selected randomly at our outpatient clinic. Nobody complained of dizziness. Posturographic examination was given before and after 30-minute electrical stimulation. Items tested were envelope area, area (root mean square), total length, total length-area, mean amplitude of lateral body sway (mx), and anteroposterior sway (my). Those parameters did not improve in patients without tinnitus relief. Two postural measures (envelope area and mx) showed significant improvement in patients with tinnitus relief. These effects appeared only on positions involving restricted visual feedback. In a comparison of postural measures in patients with and without tinnitus relief, all parameters except total length and mx improved significantly in patients with eyes open. Our study showed that aside from the auditory system, tinnitus can affect balance, implying that tinnitus may be a factor in increasing unsteadiness in patients with tinnitus.