Tinnitus : Epidemiology, Causes and Emerging Therapeutic Treatments

Tinnitus is not a disease, but rather a symptom or condition characterized by a conscious perception of an unreal sound in the absence of external auditory stimulus. This ontological condition can modify everyday life in different ways: causing distress and annoyance, sleep disruption, anxiety and depression. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes tinnitus as a symptom of hearing disorder characterized by the sensation of buzzing, ringing, clicking, pulsations, grinding, hissing, roaring or other noises in the ear. This book provides current research on the epidemiology, causes and emerging treatments for tinnitus. The chapters include topics on the role of temporomandibular disorders in the genesis of tinnitus; the hyperacusis, stapedial reflex and recruitment phenomenon; pharmacological treatments; and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy.