Effect of transtympanally applied lidocaine on the cochleovestibular function.

Twenty-two patients with recurring attacks of tinnitus, hearing loss and dizziness were treated with transtympanally injected lidocaine. The tinnitus improved in 19, and the pure tone and speech audiometric thresholds decreased in 15 cases. The dizziness and latent spontaneous nystagmus disappeared in all subjects where these symptoms were manifest before treatment.