Abstract
A 27-year-old female with tinnitus and fullness of the left ear was audiologically studied. Results of pure tone audiometry and tympanometry were normal with intact otoscopy. Tinnitus was at a level of 12126 Hz, 6 dB SL, according to a tinnitus audiometer. The blood pressure was 100/64 and the Schellong test showed a positive finding.
Because tinnitus is frequently accompanied by high frequency sensorineural hearing loss, we evaluated the hearing in higher frequency regions using a tinnitus audiometer. As a result, thresholds above 13.9kHz of the left ear were elevated by 20dB higher than those of the right ear. Hearing loss at higher frequency was evidently shown. Considering the hypothesis that the cochlear damage may be generated by a perfusion deficit due to the combined effect of hypotension and imperfect vasomotor regulation, treatment was started with midodrine hydrochloride medication of 4mg, 2 times daily. Seven days after the start of treatment, tinnitus disappeared, thresholds in the high frequency range recovered to normal, and the Schellong test showed a negative finding.
High frequency audiometry above the conventional frequency range was useful in this case.
