investigations in tinnitus

Last edited 03/2020

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:

    • magnetic resonance angiogram or MRI of head, neck, temporal bone and IAM if clinical examination and audiological assessment are normal, or contrast-enhanced CT of head, neck, temporal bone and IAM if they cannot have magnetic resonance angiogram or MRI

    • contrast-enhanced CT of temporal bone if an osseous or middle-ear abnormality is suspected (for example, glomus tumour), followed by MRI if further investigation of soft tissue is required

  • 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

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