Noise exposure and its effect on the labyrinth, Part II.

The neurootological data of 12 patients attending our ear, nose, and throat clinic were analyzed. The patients submitted to a neurootological routine evaluation consisting of patient history recording and audiometric and equilibriometric investigations (i.e., electronystagmography). The conclusion was that many tinnitus patients--even those who had no vestibular symptoms--showed some disturbance in the vestibular tests, such as spontaneous and positional nystagmus and nystagmus alternans. Laurikainen came to the same conclusion in 1995, after examining 10 patients with sudden deafness but no vestibular complaints. It is recommended that all patients with noise exposure, sudden deafness, and tinnitus of the severe disabling type undergo a complete cochleovestibular investigation.