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Tinnitus: diagnosis and treatment
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Subjective tinnitus, often debilitating, affects many otolaryngology patients. Advanced diagnostics and targeted therapies, including sound masking, offer relief for most tinnitus sufferers.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
Background:
- Subjective tinnitus is a prevalent and poorly understood condition encountered in otolaryngology practices.
- It significantly impacts patients, particularly those with hearing impairments, and can be incapacitating.
Observation:
- Tinnitus diagnosis and classification are crucial for effective management.
- Diagnostic tools like tinnitus analyzers, electrocochleography, and brain stem evoked response audiometry aid in identifying the lesion site.
- Potential lesion locations include the cochlea, cochlear nerve, brain stem, and auditory cortex.
Findings:
- Specific disease entities causing tinnitus should be identified and treated.
- Surgical interventions like cochlear nerve section or rhizotomy can address tinnitus from specific nerve lesions.
- Hearing aids and tinnitus maskers are effective, with sound masking showing 82% efficacy in tinnitus suppression.
Implications:
- Comprehensive examination and judicious therapy selection can provide relief for the majority of patients with disturbing tinnitus.
- Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism of tinnitus relief through auditory stimulation.
- Improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches enhance patient outcomes for subjective tinnitus.