Tinnitus: still ‘A Ghost in the Machine’ or a Darwinian survival phenomenon?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The causation of tinnitus continues to intrigue. Despite the plethora of publications there is no definitive path available to concentrate our efforts, in alleviating the symptom. Several mechanical theories are available in standard tinnitus literature with varying empiricism.

Purpose/aim of the study: To investigate a possible way forward.

Materials and Methods: Employing a forensic methodology (“crime scene analysis” technique) and utilizing available evidence from the related sciences, inductive and abstract reasoning, a pragmatic model incorporating the known features of tinnitus is available.

Results: A plausible evolutionary explanation of the origins and functions for the causation of tinnitus is offered with a possible link to its evasive nature, in our search for a cause.

Conclusion: The functional value of tinnitus may be provided by our evolutionary history. It is possible that tinnitus was a protective adaptive phenomenon in earlier forms but in our current environment merely contributes to nuisance value.

KEYWORDS:

• Idiopathic tinnitus
• tinnitus mechanisms
• Darwinianism
• evolution

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sylvester Fernandes

Dr Sylvester Fernandes is an otolaryngolist with a law qualification and a special interest in brain particle/mind wave duality.