[Myoclonus of the middle ear. A rare, differential diagnosis for objective tinnitus]

PRESENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: Myoclonus of the musculature of the soft palate, as well as middle ear myoclonus resulting from abnormal contraction of the stapedius and/or tensor tympani muscles, are two of the rarer causes in the differential diagnose of objective tinnitus.

Here we describe a childhood case. To our knowledge, no case has previously been described in a child.

Our patient isa six year old girl with a bilateral 40 dB sensorineural hearing loss and a high frequency objective tinnitus. The methods of clinical investigation, possible differential diagnoses and therapeutic options are discussed.

Both intracerebral changes and systemic disorders have been described in some adult patients with palatal myoclonus. Whereas these cases are unlikely to respond to therapy, there is the chance that in some patients with objective tinnitus middle ear myoclonus may be the cause. This should be excluded by appropriate otoneurological investigations.