Cofactors of Pediatric Tinnitus: A Look at the Whole Picture. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Levi, Jessica; Basa, Krystyne; Wong, Kevin; Morlet, Thierry; O'Reilly, Robert
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 58:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 327
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: tinnitus -- pediatric -- comorbidities -- hearing loss -- primary care; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922818816426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

Retrospective chart review of 248 children (1-19 years old) with tinnitus who presented to a tertiary pediatric hospital between 2006 and 2011, looking at which cofactors are predictors of pediatric tinnitus. In our review, we extracted demographics, symptoms, historical data, imaging, and laboratory results; we compared with the general population. Eighty-seven percent had normal hearing. Age distribution, noise exposure, and frequency of psychiatric diagnoses in our cohort were consistent with previous reports. We found a lower incidence of otitis media and the same prevalence of dizziness, asthma, and hearing loss as the general population, a lower prevalence of Eustachian tube dysfunction, otitis media, headaches, and higher incidence of rhinosinusitis. Lack of patient reporting and objective testing complicate the ability to detect pediatric tinnitus. We revealed a gap in the literature regarding rhinosinusitis as a cofactor, imaging during diagnosis, and if psychiatric diagnoses are associated with tinnitus in younger children.