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Tinnitus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2006

D J McFerran
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Essex County Hospital, Colchester, UK
J S Phillips
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Essex County Hospital, Colchester, UK

Abstract

Chronic idiopathic subjective tinnitus is a common condition affecting around one in ten of the population at any given time. For the majority of people it is an annoyance rather than a major health issue but for approximately 0.5 per cent of the population tinnitus interferes with their ability to pursue a normal life. Modern theories of the pathogenesis of the condition concentrate on the central auditory system although the peripheral auditory system can be a trigger or ignition site for tinnitus. Although a cure remains elusive there are several good treatment strategies based on psychological and neurophysiological models of tinnitus that promote habituation to the symptom.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
2006 JLO (1984) Limited

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