Tinnitus is thought to be suppressed through partial reversal of auditory deafferentation via cochlear implantation (CI). By stimulating the deafferented auditory pathway, multiple studies have revealed that tinnitus is significantly suppressed in 66-92% of patients undergoing CI. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CI as a treatment for tinnitus and to investigate post-CI audiologic outcomes in patients with single-sided deafness (SSD). From November 2018 to July 2020, 10 patients who were diagnosed with SSD and suffering from tinnitus were prospectively recruited at three tertiary referral hospitals. Participants in this study agreed to undergo CI as a treatment for tinnitus. Postoperative aided pure tone audiometry (PTA) and word recognition score (WRS) were measured. Questionnaires related to tinnitus, such as the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores including loudness, distress, and perception, were administered. Additionally, a tinnitogram was obtained for loudness and pitch matching. Audiological outcomes of CI were analyzed in conjunction with the results of pitch-matching from the tinnitogram. All 10 patients completed device-on evaluations, and 9 patients completed device-off evaluations. THI scores showed statistically significant improvement 3 months after CI in both the device-on and device-off conditions (preoperative: 78; device on: 38, p = 0.027; device off: 50, p = 0.049). VAS scores also demonstrated significant improvement after CI (preoperative: 8.2; device on: 3.3, p = 0.011; device off: 6.5, p = 0.012). Four patients demonstrated changes in psychoacoustic tinnitus features after CI: 2 changed to lower frequency, 1 changed to higher frequency, and 1 patient's tinnitus changed from white noise to a specific identifiable frequency. There was no significant tendency for threshold (T-level and C-level) changes in pitch-matching frequency. In line with previous literature, this exploratory multicenter study demonstrated improvement in tinnitus loudness and distress after CI in patients with single-sided deafness and tinnitus, with a tendency for greater reduction in tinnitus intensity observed when the device was activated. Additionally, approximately half of the patients showed changes in the psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus after CI. Given the small sample size and the absence of a non-implanted control group, these findings should be regarded as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, and warrant confirmation in adequately powered controlled trials.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. More than 50 million people in the United States have reported experiencing tinnitus, resulting in an estimated prevalence of 10% to 15% in adults. The focus of this guideline is on tinnitus that is both bothersome and persistent (lasting 6 months or longer), which often negatively affects the patient's quality of life. The target audience for the guideline is any clinician, including allied health professionals, involved in managing patients with tinnitus. The target patient population is limited to adults (18 years and older) with tinnitus that is persistent and bothersome.

This plain language summary is an overview of tinnitus (pronounced TIN-it-us). The purpose of this plain language summary is to provide patients with standard language explaining their condition in an easy-to-read format. This summary applies to those 18 years of age or older with tinnitus. The summary is written in an FAQ (frequently asked questions) format. The summary addresses how to manage and treat tinnitus symptoms. The summary is based on the published 2026 "Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus Update." The evidence-based guideline includes research to support more effective diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus. The guideline was developed as a quality improvement opportunity for managing tinnitus by creating clear recommendations to use in medical practice.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. More than 50 million people in the United States have reported experiencing tinnitus, resulting in an estimated prevalence of 10% to 15% in adults. The focus of this guideline is on tinnitus that is both bothersome and persistent (lasting 6 months or longer), which often negatively affects the patient's quality of life. The target audience for the guideline is any clinician, including allied health professionals, involved in managing patients with tinnitus. The target patient population is limited to adults (18 years and older) with tinnitus that is persistent and bothersome.

This cross-sectional study examined whether tinnitus was associated with verbal information-processing speed and inhibitory control in adults with bilateral hearing loss. It included 132 bilateral hearing aid users with moderately severe or severe hearing loss: 66 with tinnitus and 66 without tinnitus. Information-processing speed, selective attention, and inhibitory control were assessed using the Stroop Test TBAG (Temel Bilimler Araştırma Grubu) Form, and tinnitus-related handicap was evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. The Stroop assessor was blinded to tinnitus status and questionnaire scores. Rank-based analyses of covariance adjusted for hearing-loss duration and severity, with Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction within outcome families. After adjustment, the tinnitus group had higher mean ranks for completion times across five Stroop sections (all q ≤ .048). They made more self-corrections in Section 4 (q = .039) and more errors and self-corrections in the high-interference Section 5 (both q < .001). Stroop completion times were not significantly associated with Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores after adjustment for 20 comparisons (all q ≥ .505). These findings suggest that tinnitus is associated with longer Stroop completion times and additional difficulty with response inhibition and monitoring under high-interference conditions, whereas tinnitus-related handicap was not associated with performance.

Animal models are essential for investigating tinnitus physiology and therapeutic interventions. This study aimed to evaluate a salicylate-induced tinnitus rat model using a dual behavioral-electrophysiological approach and to compare the sensitivity of click and chirp stimuli in auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Following sound-silence conditioning in a water T-maze (WTM), the salicylate group received sodium salicylate (300mg/kg, i.p.) for six days, while the sham group received 0.9% saline. Tinnitus presence was behaviorally assessed via the water T maze swimming test, followed by ABR recordings under anesthesia using click and chirp stimuli at 80dB SPL (waves I-V) and 20dB SPL (wave II for hearing loss evaluation). Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats with normal hearing were analyzed to sham (n=13) and salicylate (n=11) groups. Behaviorally, rats in the salicylate group spent significantly more time in the sound-associated arm during silence, demonstrating tinnitus-like behavior. Electrophysiologically, salicylate administration induced significant amplitude increases in waves III exclusively in click-evoked ABRs. Conversely, chirp-evoked ABR amplitudes showed no alterations post-salicylate exposure. In the latency analyses, while the three-way interaction was not significant. The stimulus x time two-way interaction was found to be statistically significant only for wave V. In conclusion, combining Water T-Maze testing with ABR recordings offers a time-efficient and animal-welfare-oriented approach to evaluate experimental tinnitus. Under the present recording conditions, click-evoked ABRs captured amplitude alterations more responsively than chirp stimuli in this specific acute model, though further research is required before click stimuli can be established as a generally superior marker for tinnitus assessment.

Styloidogenic jugular venous compression syndrome (SJVCS) is a rare variant of Eagle Syndrome caused by compression of the internal jugular vein (IJV) by an elongated styloid process. We describe a 47-year-old woman in whom papilledema was incidentally detected during a routine optometric examination. Initial neuroimaging did not adequately image the jugular veins in the neck but demonstrated unremarkable intracranial appearances. The patient remained asymptomatic with a normal lumbar puncture opening pressure. Over 3 years, the papilledema gradually worsened in the absence of symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, until she later presented with progressive headaches, tinnitus, and blurred vision. Repeat imaging and catheter venography revealed severe bilateral IJV stenosis consistent with SJVCS. Given right-sided venous dominance, the patient underwent a right styloidectomy, resulting in the resolution of symptoms and papilledema. This case suggests two novel insights into SJVCS: (1) papilledema may represent an early manifestation before intracranial hypertension symptoms become apparent, and (2) the clinical manifestations may progress over time.

Sigmoid sinus diverticulum (SSD) is an aberrant venous dilatation commonly associated with pulsatile tinnitus. However, an SSD without pulsatile tinnitus may be difficult to anticipate. Pre-operative computed tomography should be carefully reviewed for such vascular anomalies, with meticulous anticipation at surgery. SSD may pose a problem in proper visualization of the surgical field, and may put the surgeons in a dilemma on whether drilling can be continued safely. Right judgment, careful and patient drilling, and proper repair of the sinus plate in the event of inadvertent breach are the essential steps for a safe surgery. This clinical illustration describes the learning points in the management of a patient diagnosed with chronic otitis media with mixed hearing loss but without tinnitus, planned for tympanoplasty and cortical mastoidectomy, with an SSD discovered incidentally on imaging and encountered at surgery.

BACKGROUND Hemangiomas are relatively common in the head and neck but rarely involve the external auditory canal (EAC). Surgical approaches for EAC hemangiomas vary, and optimal surgical management remains unclear. CASE REPORT We present 2 cases of hemangioma involving the EAC. Case 1 involved a 68-year-old man who presented with a sensation of fullness in the left ear. Case 2 involved a 62-year-old woman who presented with right-ear fullness, hearing loss, and persistent tinnitus. Preoperative assessment included otologic examination, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and corresponding auditory evaluations. Imaging across both cases consistently revealed well-defined soft-tissue masses confined to the EAC, accompanied by localized bony irregularities but preserving the middle ear structures. Both patients underwent complete trans-canal excision with concurrent skin flap reconstruction. Histopathological analysis of the excised specimens confirmed the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma in each case. At 1-year follow-up, both patients achieved full symptom resolution, intact canal anatomy, and no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS In our 2 cases, trans-canal resection combined with local flap reconstruction served as a practical approach for EAC cavernous hemangiomas, resulting in symptom resolution and preservation of canal integrity at the 1-year follow-up.