2. TINNITUS Tinnitus is not a disease in itself… is a ringing, swishing, or other type of noise that seems to originate in the ear or head. Most of us will experience tinnitus or sounds in the ears at some time or another. (15 %) 12 percent of men who are 65 to 74 years of age are affected by tinnitus identified more frequently in white individuals
3. Tinnitus can arise in any of the four sections of the hearing system: the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and the brain.
4. Causes and risk factors It’s particularly related to ageing (presbyacusis). Exposure to noise Presence of earwax Head injury Stress Ear Infections Ménière's disease Some medication, such as aspirin Overactive thyroid gland or anaemia
5. Tinnitus that occurs in only one ear should be taken more seriously as it may be caused by an acoustic neuroma The symptoms of tinnitus can affect different people in different ways, and the severity of the noises that are heard can range from mild to severe.
6. TYPES(symptoms) a sound of crickets or roaring, buzzing, hissing, whistling, and high-pitched ringing. clicking or pulsatile tinnitus (the noise accompanies your heartbeat). subjective tinnitus, meaning that you hear a sound but it cannot be heard by others. objective tinnitus, meaning your doctor may sometimes actually hear a sound when he or she is carefully listening for it.
7. TREATMENT Since tinnitus can be caused by a wide variety of different health conditions, the treatment that is recommended will depend on the underlying cause For example, if caused by a severe or long-term ear infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. If by a build up of earwax, then eardrops or ear irrigation is recommended
8. However, in most cases of tinnitus, there is no cure and so treatment is aimed at managing the symptom on a day-to-day basis.
9. Objective tinnitus: Gamma knife radiosurgery(glomusjugulare) Shielding of cochlea by teflon implant Botulinum toxin (palatal tremor) Propranolol and clonazepam(arterial anatomic variation) Clearing ear canal (in the case of earwax plug) Using aNeurostimulator
14. Comprehensive Laser Rehabilitation Therapy of Tinnitus Irradiation points: • procesusmastoideus aiming in the direction of contra-lateral orbit • meatusacusticusexternus in the direction of the acoustic duct. 2 – 3 times a week • 8 - 10 applications in total • 4 – 6 weeks break
15. Picture 3 – Irradiation of MeatusAcusticusExternus
16. Picture 4 – Irradiation of MeatusAcusticusExternus -detail
19. techniques of LLLT application 1. application on meatusacusticusexternus - in the direction of the axis of the auditory duct - continuous beam 50J/cm2 followed by 25 J/cm2, frequency modulation of 5 Hz, 2. irradiation of processusmastoideus - directed on the center, the vector of the beam in the direction of counterlateral orbit, continuous beam 90 J/cm2 , followed by 45 J/cm2 with 5 Hz pulse frequency.