The international tinnitus journal
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Patients with any type of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) may have several symptoms in their temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles and associated structures, and may have otological symptoms such as tinnitus, ear fullness, ear pain, hearing loss, hyperacusis, and vertigo, which may be due to the anatomical proximity between the temporomandibular joint, muscles innervated by the trigeminal nerve, and ear structures. Objective: This study found a prevalence of ear complaints described in the medical records of patients (n = 485) at the Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of the Temporomandibular Joint and Dental-Facial Functional Alterations at Tuiuti University of Paraná (CDATM/UTP), with TMD evaluated by the Research Diagnostic Criteria/Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/ TMD). ⋯ These data support the correlation between temporomandibular disorders and otological symptoms, even without being caused directly by the ear.
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Tinnitus is a perception of an auditory sensation without the presence of an external sound. It has devastating impact on the quality of life and psychosocial aspect of the sufferer. Mechanisms of tinnitus not clear; however, its management include counselling, hearing aids, tinnitus masking, relaxation therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy. ⋯ Combined therapies (masking + counselling + attention diversion) appear more appropriate in the treatment of tinnitus as the evidence is not sufficient to support a specific treatment method.
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Increased spontaneous activity and aberrant neural synchrony is thought to be the underlying cause of tinnitus. The perceived pitch of tinnitus may be dictated by frequency specific neural fibers of the subcortical pathway, or the projection of altered cortical activity by-way-of tonotopic reorganizations. Subcortical neural activity in relation to tinnitus was characterized using ABR measurements. ⋯ While GI demonstrated prolonged V-III IPLs, no significant differences were found for GIa. This suggests that there is no frequency specific subcortical characteristic associated with tinnitus with normal hearing. Frequency specific properties for subcortical activity could not be characterized due to varying results of GIIa.
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The most common otological symptoms in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are ear fullness, tinnitus and ear pain. ⋯ Tinnitus reported in patients with TMD caused moderate impact on quality of life and can be seen in the presence of background noise although daily activities can still be performed.
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The tympanic membrane displacement test (TMDT) is an attempt to record intracranial pressure (ICP) reflective of an intracranial pulse pressure amplitude wave (IPPA) transmitted to the inner ear and tympanic membrane with a probe placed into the external ear canal. Twelve tinnitus patients, divided into two groups, who were resistant to attempts to achieve tinnitus control or relief were selected for the TMDT. The group 1 TMDT recordings were obtained on one session test date, and group 2 (n = 6) recordings were obtained sequentially on different session test dates. Patient selection with the medical audiologic tinnitus patient protocol (MATPP) identified all to have a nonpulsatile, predominantly central-type severe disabling subjective idiopathic tinnitus (SIT) resistant to attempts for tinnitus relief with instrumentation or medication. Associated complaints in all selected SIT patients included persistent ear blockage in the SIT ear, normal middle-ear function, controlled secondary endolymphatic hydrops in the SIT ear, sensorineural hearing loss of high frequency, hyperacusis, occasional vertigo, and central nervous system complaints of headache, head pressure, and cognitive interference in memory and/or speech expression. Clinical concern is for the presence of an increased ICP reflecting an idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) which, if not identified and treated, may be a factor influencing the clinical course of this particular cohort of SIT patients, highlighted by persistent ear blockage and associated complaints as described. ⋯ (1) The TMDT demonstrated repeated and consistent spontaneous nonevoked recordings of displacement of the tympanic membrane, reflective of intra-aural pressure, abnormal IPPA ICP in a preselected particular cohort of SIT patients clinically suspected to have an abnormal ICP (i.e., IIH). (2) Test-retest reliability of the TMDT was positive. (3) The results of the TMDT application for identification of an elevated ICP and reduced CC were positive in 10 of 12 particular preselected patients with nonpulsatile, predominantly central-type SIT resistant to attempts for tinnitus relief with instrumentation or medication. These positive findings support clinical and basic science investigations previously reported in the literature. (4) The clinical significance of these preliminary results of an elevated ICP in a particular cohort of SIT patients supports the clinical impression of the presence of an IIH and its influence on the clinical course and overall treatment of SIT. (5) A final conclusion as to the clinical significance of an elevated ICP and reduced CC for IIH and the diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus remains to be established.