Evaluation and Treatment of Tinnitus

doi:10.15406/joentr.2017.06.00186

Journal of

eISSN: 2379-6359

Otolaryngology-ENT Research

Mini Review Volume 6 Issue 6

Evaluation and Treatment of Tinnitus

Scheila Farias de Paiva,

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Isis Paloma Silva Aragão, Anne Thamires Santos Sampaio, Marília Evellyn Hilário dos Santos , Fabio Rafael Teixeira de Santana

Study Group of Audiology and Otoneurology the Sergipe Federal University, Brazil

Correspondence: Scheila Farias de Paiva Study Group of Audiology and Otoneurology the Sergipe Federal University, Brazil

Received: October 30, 2016 | Published: April 19, 2017

Citation: Paiva SF, Aragao IPS, Sampaio ATS, Santos MEH, Santana FRT (2017) Evaluation and Treatment of Tinnitus. J Otolaryngol ENT Res 6(6): 00186. DOI: 10.15406/joentr.2017.06.00186

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Keywords

tinnitus, nosologic entity, humming sensation, primary tinnitus, cognitive behavior therapy

Abbreviations

PT, primary tinnitus; ST, secondary tinnitus; TSOAE, transient stimulation of otoacoustic emissions; VAS, visual analog scale; THI, tinnitus handicap inventory; CBT, cognitive behavior therapy; TAT, tinnitus activities treatment

Introduction

Tinnitus is characterized by being a symptom of an underlying nosologic entity. It is described as the sensation of noise in the absence of a corresponding external sound stimulus. Many individuals don’t feel disturbed by this symptom.^1‒6 On the other hand, however, the humming sensation can have a significantly negative impact on one’s quality of life, besides being related to other problems that affect cognitive functions.

Incidence

The prevalence of tinnitus in the general population was estimated by various studies to vary from 5,1% to 42,7% with a greater incidence in the male population, tending to increase with age. In the paediatric population the prevalence ranges from 6% to 41,9% whilst for children with hearing loss it affects 23,5% to 62,5%. It should be noted, however, that it’s uncommon for children to suffer from tinnitus alone.^7‒10

Classification

Primary Tinnitus (PT): idiopathy associated or not to a sensorineural hearing loss.
Secondary Tinnitus (ST): associated to an underlying known cause (with the exception of sensorineural hearing loss), or a known organic condition. It’s a symptom of a disorder in the hearing system.

Clinical evaluation of tinnitus

Anamnesis.
Desciption of the humming sensation.
Research on associated health factors.
Basic audiological evaluation and measurement of acoustic immittance.
Transient stimulation of otoacoustic emissions (TSOAE) and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE).
Acuphenometry.
Quality-of-life questionnaires, visual analog scale (VAS) or Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

Treatment for tinnitus

Some authors divide the treatment in two categories: pharmacological treatment and electric stimulation, the other consisting of pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, sound therapy (retraining therapy and masking therapy), massage and stretching, acupuncture, hearing instruments amongst others.
Therapies in which a phonoaudiologist is effectively involved:

Tinnutus Retraining Therapy
Hipersensibility (Tinnitus Retraining)
Tinnitus Masking Therapy (Tinnitus Activities Treatment – TAT)
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
Neck and masticatory muscle massages and stretching

Conclusion

In view of what has been exposed here, there is a need of an extensive and thorough clinical evaluation of patients who suffer from tinnitus, with the need of assessments and specialized examinations whenever necessary in order to detect its origin and, hence, the best treatment for the patient.^11‒18 In its multi professional team, the Fonoaudiologist is highlighted, since this is who is responsible for the evaluation, diagnostic and development of intervention strategies for the treatment of tinnitus.