Isolated Psychogenic Palatal Myoclonus as a Cause of Objective Tinnitus

Abstract

The authors draw attention to objective tinnitus due to palatal myoclonus when occurring as a solitary complaint. The belief is expressed that in such cases a psychiatric disorder is the underlying cause. The need for psychiatric treatment in these cases is stressed. Gontrarily, palatal myoclonus as a component of neurological syndromes is attributed to organic lesions of the central nervous system. These conclusions are based on five illustrative cases and a review of the literature. Any classification of the tinnitus has to be extended to include subdivisions of palatal myoclonus into psychogenic and organic varieties as distinct categories.