Diagnosis Tinnitus

1 diagnosis

1.1 audiology
1.2 psychoacoustics
1.3 severity
1.4 pulsatile tinnitus
1.5 differential diagnosis

diagnosis

even when tinnitus primary complaint, audiological evaluation preceded examination ent diagnose treatable conditions middle ear infection, acoustic neuroma, concussion, otosclerosis, etc.

evaluation of tinnitus include hearing test (audiogram), measurement of acoustic parameters of tinnitus pitch , loudness, , psychological assessment of comorbid conditions depression, anxiety, , stress associated severity of tinnitus.

the accepted definition of chronic tinnitus, compared normal ear noise experience, 5 minutes of ear noise occurring @ least twice week. however, people chronic tinnitus experience noise more , can experience continuously or regularly, such during night when there less environmental noise mask sound.

audiology

since persons tinnitus have hearing loss, pure tone hearing test resulting in audiogram may diagnose cause, though persons tinnitus not have hearing loss. audiogram may facilitate fitting of hearing aid in cases hearing loss significant. pitch of tinnitus in range of hearing loss.

psychoacoustics

acoustic qualification of tinnitus include measurement of several acoustic parameters frequency in cases of monotone tinnitus or frequency range , bandwidth in cases of narrow band noise tinnitus, loudness in db above hearing threshold @ indicated frequency, mixing-point, , minimum masking level. in cases, tinnitus pitch or frequency range between 5000 hz , 10.000 hz, , loudness between 5 , 15 db above hearing threshold.

another relevant parameter of tinnitus residual inhibition, temporary suppression or disappearance of tinnitus following period of masking. degree of residual inhibition may indicate how effective tinnitus maskers treatment modality.

an assessment of hyperacusis, frequent accompaniment of tinnitus, may made. measured parameter loudness discomfort level (ldl) in db, subjective level of acute discomfort @ specified frequencies on frequency range of hearing. defines dynamic range between hearing threshold @ frequency , loudnes discomfort level. compressed dynamic range on particular frequency range associated subjectve hyperacusis. normal hearing threshold defined 0–20 decibels (db). normal loudness discomfort levels 85–90+ db, authorities citing 100 db. dynamic range of 55 db or less indicative of hyperacusis.

severity

the condition rated on scale slight catastrophic according effects has, such interference sleep, quiet activities , normal daily activities. in extreme case man committed suicide after being told there no cure.

assessment of psychological processes related tinnitus involves measurement of tinnitus severity , distress (i.e. nature , extent of tinnitus-related problems), measured subjectively validated self-report tinnitus questionnaires. these questionnaires measure degree of psychological distress , handicap associated tinnitus, including effects on hearing, lifestyle, health , emotional functioning. broader assessment of general functioning, such levels of anxiety, depression, stress, life stressors , sleep difficulties, important in assessment of tinnitus due higher risk of negative well-being across these areas, may affected or exacerbate tinnitus symptoms individual. overall, current assessment measures aimed identify individual levels of distress , interference, coping responses , perceptions of tinnitus in order inform treatment , monitor progress. however, wide variability, inconsistencies , lack of consensus regarding assessment methodology evidenced in literature, limiting comparison of treatment effectiveness. developed guide diagnosis or classify severity, tinnitus questionnaires have been shown treatment-sensitive outcome measures.

pulsatile tinnitus

if examination reveals bruit (sound due turbulent blood flow), imaging studies such transcranial doppler (tcd) or magnetic resonance angiography (mra) should performed.

differential diagnosis

other potential sources of sounds associated tinnitus should ruled out. instance, 2 recognized sources of high-pitched sounds might electromagnetic fields common in modern wiring , various sound signal transmissions. common , misdiagnosed condition mimics tinnitus radio frequency (rf) hearing, in subjects have been tested , found hear high-pitched transmission frequencies sound similar tinnitus.