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Diseases

Tinnitus

OVERVIEW

  • Highlights & Basics
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DIAGNOSIS

  • Diagnostic Approach
  • Risk Factors
  • History & Exam
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Criteria
  • Screening

TREATMENT

  • Tx Approach
  • Tx Options
  • Emerging Tx
  • Prevention

FOLLOW-UP

  • Overview
  • Complications

REFERENCES

  • Citations
  • Guidelines
  • Credits

PATIENT RESOURCES

  • Patient Instructions

Highlights & Basics

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Key Highlights
  • Tinnitus is the perception of sounds in the absence of any internal or external auditory stimulus.

  • Sounds may be soft or loud and may be described as ringing, humming, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or pulsing. Pitch may be low or high.

  • 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

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      • Diagnostics Tests

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        • Treatment Options

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          Definition

          Epidemiology

          Etiology

          Pathophysiology

          content by BMJ Group
          Last updated

          Citations

            Key Articles

            • Dalrymple SN, Lewis SH, Philman S. Tinnitus: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2021 Jun 1;103(11):663-71.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • Tunkel DE, Bauer CA, Sun GH, et al. Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Oct;151(suppl 2):S1-40.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: tinnitus. 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]

            Other Online Resources

            • American Tinnitus Association

            Referenced Articles

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