This site is intended for healthcare professionals

CPD
CPD
Pro
Pro
account_circleSign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Investigations in tinnitus

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Investigations


Audiological assessment

  • an audiological assessment should be offered to people with tinnitus

  • consider tympanometry when middle-ear or Eustachian tube dysfunction, or other causes of conductive hearing loss contributing to tinnitus, are suspected


  • do not offer acoustic reflex testing or uncomfortable loudness levels/loudness discomfort levels testing as part of an investigation of tinnitus
  • do not offer otoacoustic emissions tests as part of an investigation of tinnitus unless the tinnitus is accompanied by other symptoms and signs

Imaging


Non-pulsatile tinnitus

  • MRI of internal auditory meati (IAM) should be offered to people with non-pulsatile tinnitus who have associated neurological, otological or head and neck signs and symptoms
    • if they are unable to have MRI (IAM), offer contrast-enhanced CT (IAM)
  • MRI (IAM) should be considered for people with unilateral or asymmetrical non-pulsatile tinnitus who have no associated neurological, audiological, otological or head and neck signs and symptoms. If they are unable to have MRI (IAM), consider contrast-enhanced CT (IAM)


  • do not offer imaging to people with symmetrical non-pulsatile tinnitus with no associated neurological, audiological, otological or head and neck signs and symptoms

Pulsatile tinnitus

  • imaging should be offered to people with pulsatile tinnitus

  • for people with synchronous pulsatile tinnitus, consider:


  • for people with non-synchronous pulsatile tinnitus (for example, caused by palatal myoclonus) consider MRI of the head, or if they cannot have MRI, contrast-enhanced CT of the head

Reference:

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.