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Noise exposure and its effect on the labyrinth, Part II
1Ear Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
The International Tinnitus Journal
|December 24, 2003
Summary
Many tinnitus patients exhibit vestibular disturbances, even without apparent symptoms. A comprehensive cochleovestibular investigation is recommended for severe tinnitus, sudden deafness, and noise exposure.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurotology
Background:
- Neurootological evaluation is crucial for understanding complex auditory and vestibular disorders.
- Routine assessment includes patient history, audiometry, and equilibriometric tests like electronystagmography.
Observation:
- Analysis of 12 patients revealed significant vestibular disturbances in many with tinnitus, irrespective of reported vestibular symptoms.
- Specific findings included spontaneous and positional nystagmus, and nystagmus alternans.
Findings:
- A notable percentage of tinnitus patients, even those without subjective vestibular complaints, demonstrated objective abnormalities in vestibular function tests.
- These subclinical vestibular dysfunctions were identified through detailed neurootological examinations.
Implications:
- The findings suggest a strong link between tinnitus and underlying vestibular system dysfunction.
- It is recommended that patients with severe disabling tinnitus, sudden deafness, or significant noise exposure receive a complete cochleovestibular investigation to identify potential vestibular involvement.