Tinnitus

WikiDoc Resources for Tinnitus
Articles
Most recent articles on Tinnitus Most cited articles on Tinnitus Review articles on Tinnitus Articles on Tinnitus in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Tinnitus Images of Tinnitus Photos of Tinnitus Podcasts & MP3s on Tinnitus Videos on Tinnitus
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Tinnitus Bandolier on Tinnitus TRIP on Tinnitus
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Tinnitus at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Tinnitus Clinical Trials on Tinnitus at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Tinnitus NICE Guidance on Tinnitus NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Tinnitus CDC on Tinnitus
Books
Books on Tinnitus
News
Tinnitus in the news Be alerted to news on Tinnitus News trends on Tinnitus
Commentary
Blogs on Tinnitus
Definitions
Definitions of Tinnitus
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Tinnitus Discussion groups on Tinnitus Patient Handouts on Tinnitus Directions to Hospitals Treating Tinnitus Risk calculators and risk factors for Tinnitus
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Tinnitus Causes & Risk Factors for Tinnitus Diagnostic studies for Tinnitus Treatment of Tinnitus
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Tinnitus
International
Tinnitus en Espanol Tinnitus en Francais
Business
Tinnitus in the Marketplace Patents on Tinnitus
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Tinnitus

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview

Tinnitus (IPA pronunciation: Template:IPA or Template:IPA, from the Latin word for "ringing") is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s).

Causes of subjective tinnitus

Tinnitus can have many different causes, but most commonly results from otologic disorders - the same conditions that cause hearing loss. The most common cause is noise-induced hearing loss, resulting from exposure to excessive or loud noises. Ototoxic drugs can cause tinnitus either secondary to hearing loss or without hearing loss, and may increase the damage done by exposure to loud noise, even at doses that are not in themselves ototoxic.

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

• Antibiotics
• Cerumen impaction
• Chronic exposure to noise
• Otosclerosis
• Presbyacusis

Complete Differential Diagnosis of Tinnitus

• Acoustic neuroma
• Acute or chronic otitis media
• Alcohol
• Aminoglycosides
• Anemia
• Antidepressants
• Anxiety
• Arterial bruits

• Abberant carotid artery
• Carotid stenosis
• Persistant stapedial artery

• Arteriovenous malformation
• Aspirin
• AV shunts
• Bruxism
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Cerumen
• Cervival osteochondrosis
• Depression
• Diabetes mellitus
• Diuretics
• Drugs- Artemether and lumefantrin, Flurbiprofen, Piroxicam
• Epilepsy
• Eustation tube dysfunction
• External auditory canal obstruction
• Faulty jaw position
• Foreign body against tympanic membrane
• Glomus tympanicum
• Hallucinations
• Heavy metals
• Heavy smoking
• High jugular bulb
• Hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypertension
• Hypothyroidism
• Indomethacin
• Inner ear disease
• Meniere Disease
• Meningitis
• Middle ear disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Noise induced hearing loss
• Omeprazole
• Otosclerosis
• Palatial myoclonus
• Pregnancy
• Presbycusis (age related hearing loss)
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Quinine
• Sorafenib
• Stapedius spasm
• Tooth abnormalities
• Tooth extractions
• Temporal lobe tumor
• Venous hums
• Vitamin A deficency
• Vitamin B deficency

Prevention

Tinnitus and hearing loss can be permanent conditions, thus, precautionary measures are advisable. If a ringing in the ears is audible after exposure to a loud environment, such as a rock concert or a work place, it means that damage has been done. Prolonged exposure to noise levels as low as 70 dB can result in damage to hearing (see noise health effects). If it is not possible to limit exposure, earplugs or ear defenders should be worn. For musicians and DJs, special musicians' earplugs can lower the volume of the music without distorting the sound and can prevent tinnitus from developing in later years.

It is also important to check medications for potential ototoxicity. Ototoxicity can be cumulative between medications, or can greatly increase the damage done by noise. If ototoxic medications must be administered, close attention by the physician to prescription details, such as dose and dosage interval, can reduce the damage done.