Tinnitus is a frequent phenomenon.
Tinnitus is a common problem. Up to 15% of the population suffers from tinnitus. In more than half of these patient this can lead to depression. 40% of tinnitus sufferers have sleeping problems and the quality of life is dramaticaly decreased in 20 % of people with tinnitus.
In contrast to the prevailing idea in many cases a cause can be found for the tinnitus, especially in patients with unilateral tinnitus. This opens possibilities for treatment. Tinnitus can be subdivided in two entirely different entities, pulsatile and non-pulsatile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is caused by a resonance effect in the petrous bone due to vascular abnormalities in a normally functioning auditory system. Pulsatile tinnitus can be subdivided in arterial pulse synchronous tinnitus and a venous hum, which is more synchronized with respiratory rate. This so called venous hum arises secondary to venous abnormalities or raised intracranial pressure. Non-pulsatile tinnitus on the contrary is caused by an abnormally functioning auditory system and can be considered a phantom phenomenon similar to phantom pain. Any lesion along the trajectory of the auditory tract can result in non-pulsatile tinnitus.
For a better understanding of non-pulsatile tinnitus, knowledge of the development of the auditory tract is important.
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