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Neuro-otological findings in tinnitus patients with normal hearing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2009

C Morales-Garcia ,
G Quiroz ,
J M Matamala  and
C Tapia
C Morales-Garcia*
Affiliation:
Department of Neuro-Otology, University of Chile School of Medicine, Salvador Hospital, Santiago, Chile
G Quiroz
Affiliation:
Department of Neuro-Otology, University of Chile School of Medicine, Salvador Hospital, Santiago, Chile
J M Matamala
Affiliation:
Department of Neuro-Otology, University of Chile School of Medicine, Salvador Hospital, Santiago, Chile
C Tapia
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Chile School of Medicine, Salvador Hospital, Santiago, Chile
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Carlos Morales-Garcia, Luis Thayer Ojeda Norte 0115-Of 705, Santiago 9, Chile. Fax: (56 2) 232 2763 E-mail: cvmoralesg@vtr.net
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Abstract

Introduction:

Tinnitus is usually associated with hearing loss, and patients with tinnitus and normal hearing are unusual. Neuro-otological findings have not previously been described in tinnitus patients with normal hearing.

Aim:

To analyse neuro-otological examination results from a group of tinnitus patients with normal hearing.

Materials and methods:

Seventeen normal-hearing tinnitus patients seen over a 10-year period were retrospectively evaluated. Their results were compared with those of a control group of 17 normal subjects without tinnitus.

Results:

The main neuro-otological finding in the tinnitus patients was caloric test abnormality: a unilateral canal paresis was present in 15 of the 17 patients. Caloric tests were normal in 15 of the 17 control subjects.

Conclusion:

We may infer from these results that tinnitus could be the only clinical manifestation of a cochlear – and presumably cochleo-vestibular – lesion, and that unilateral canal paresis may be the only abnormal finding on neuro-otological examination.

Keywords

TinnitusVestibular Function TestsHearing
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 5 , May 2010 , pp. 474 - 476
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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