Is Perilymphatic Pressure Altered in Tinnitus?

Abstract

Tinnitus is characterized by the continuous or intermittent auditory perception of various sounds (buzzing, whistling, etc.) in the absence of any external stimulus. Perilymphatic hyperprcssure is one of the numerous mechanisms which could hypothetically be involved in tinnitus generation. in the present experiment, perilymphatic pressure was measured indirectly using the tympanic membrane displacement technique. Twenty-five tinnitus patients were investigated at 10, 15 and 20 dB above the acoustic reflex threshold with ipsilateral stimulation. the variables Vi (inward tympanic displacement), Vm (mean tympanic displacement) and their variations according to stimulus level were compared between tinnitus sufferers and age-matched or hearing-matched controls. Tympanic displacement was measured in sitting and supine positions so as to evaluate cochlear aqueduct patency. No systematic changes in response occurred in tinnitus patients. except at a high stimulation level, perhaps due to hearing impairment.

Key Words:

• tympanic membrane displacement measurement system
• Human
• nner ear
• acoustic reflex