Highlights & Basics
- Tinnitus is the perception of sounds in the absence of any internal or external auditory stimulus.
- Sounds may be described as ringing, humming, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or pulsing.
- May occur intermittently or constantly.
- Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation and audiometry. There may be a role for additional studies, such as auditory brainstem responses, otoacoustic emissions, and neuroimaging.
- Treatment is challenging as tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Thus intervention depends on treating the underlying cause.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
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Muehlmeier G, Biesinger E, Maier H. Safety of intratympanic injection of AM-101 in patients with acute inner ear tinnitus. Audiol Neurootol. 2011;16(6):388-97.[Abstract]
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