Neuro-otological findings in tinnitus patients with normal standard audiometry

Abstract

Introduction: Patients presenting with tinnitus and normal hearing are not frequent. There are no reports in the literature about vestibular test findings in these patients. Aim: To analyze the cochleovestibular clinical examination findings in a group of patients with tinnitus and normal hearing (standard pure-tone audiometry). Material and Method: Retrospective study in a group of 17 patients presenting with tinnitus and normal hearing over a period of 10 years. The results are compared with those from a control group of 17 individuals without tinnitus and with normal hearing. Results: In the tinnitus group, standard pure-tone audiometry was normal; in most of them (n=15) vestibular testing evidenced a unilateral vestibular paralysis on the caloric test. In contrast, in the control group, the majority (n=15) had a normal caloric test; with only two of them presenting unilateral vestibular paralysis. Conclusion: We hypothetize that, in the group of patients studied, tinnitus is the sole symptom of a “subclinic” cochleovestibular lesion, which would be evident only as a vestibular paralysis.