Tinnitus

Question 1

what is tinnitus?

Answer 1

presence of sound in the absence of external auditory stimulus

Question 2

conductive causes of tinitus?

Answer 2

1. otosclerosis

2. ottitis media

Question 3

sensorineural cause of tinnitus?

Answer 3

1. Presbycusis

2. Meniere’s disease

Question 4

neurological causes of tinnitus?

Answer 4

1. Acoustic neuroma

2. Multiple sclerosis

Question 5

what may cause sudden tinnitus and reduced hearing loss?

Answer 5

Sudden idipathic sensiruneural hearing loss

Question 6

How is sudden tinnitus and reduced hearing loss investigated?

Answer 6

1. send full bloods - haem/bio/autoimmune screen

2. MRI of internal auditory meatus (exclude acoustic neuroma)

Question 7

Management of sudden SNHL?

Answer 7

steroid (prednisolone) given within 24 hours for 1 week

Question 8

how is sudden SNHL managed in patients with poorly controlled siabetes/peptic ulder disease etc?

Answer 8

intratympanic steroid injection

Question 9

what treatment is given if the hearing loss persisits?

Answer 9

hearing aid

Question 10

How is tinnitus managed?

Answer 10

mainly conservative management
1. tinitus retraining therapy/CBT

2. hearing aids/ tinnitus masking devices