Phenotyping of somatosensory tinnitus and its associations: An observational cross-sectional study

Somatosensory tinnitus (ST) is associated with activation of the auditory pathway by trigeminal or cervical afferents.

This is a cross-sectional observational study that aims to verify the association of ST with TMD, bruxism, migraine and psychosocial aspects.

This study was conducted at the Tinnitus Outpatient Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Complex of the Federal University of Paraná. Specific ST characteristics, were evaluated according to the last consensus for the diagnosis of ST. Two groups with 39 individuals each one were formed, the ST group (STG) and the comparison group (CG). TMD was classified according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and migraine by the International Classification of Headaches. The presence of probable sleep and awake bruxism was associated with individual's reports and clinical inspections. The applied questionnaires investigated oral behaviours (OB), sleep quality (SQ), psychosocial aspects (PA), central sensitization (CS), tinnitus impact on quality of life (TIQF), and graded chronic pain scale (GCPS).

The STG showed a significant association with modulation manoeuvres and trigger points; myalgias and arthralgia; disc displacement with and without reduction; subluxation; bruxism; and presence of migraine. For the same group, we found a significant association with OB, PA, CS, TIQF and GCPS. There was no significant difference between groups regarding SQ.

There is a significant association between the presence of ST and the occurrence of TMD, probable sleep and awake bruxism, and migraine. There is also a greater impairment of OB, PA, CS and TIQF.