Surgical Treatment of Tinnitus

Abstract

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external sound and often results in a disorder of the somatosensory system or the auditory system. Tinnitus is a common clinical symptom that can be debilitating. The risk factors for tinnitus include hearing loss, ototoxicity, head trauma, and depression. Tinnitus is only a symptom that might be the result of different underlying pathologies. The exact treatment of tinnitus has often several options because of its etiological heterogeneity. Although much progress has been made, tinnitus is still considered a scientific and clinical enigma. The search for effective tinnitus treatment faces considerable challenges. Despite numerous trials, no drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of tinnitus. There are different types of treatment for tinnitus that have been tested in properly controlled trials. These treatment options include pharmacological, acoustic-physical, psychological, and surgical. In clinical practice, no pharmacological agent has been shown to have a lasting effect on the presence or severity of tinnitus. Surgery has a small but definite role in the treatment of tinnitus. Surgical intervention is often helpful in relieving most of the objective tinnitus. This review article discusses the epidemiology, indications, and different surgical approaches for tinnitus.