Tinnitus

Differential Diagnosis

Common Diagnoses

Occasional Diagnoses

  • After a Sudden Loud Noise (e.g. Gunfire)
  • Head Injury (Especially Basal Skull Fracture)
  • Drugs: Aspirin Overdose, Loop Diuretics, Aminoglycosides, Quinine
  • Hypertension and Atherosclerosis
  • TMJ Dysfunction

Rare Diagnoses

  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Palatal Myoclonus (Objectively Detectable)
  • Arteriovenous Fistulae and Arterial Bruits (Objectively Detectable)
  • Severe Anaemia and Renal Failure
  • Glomus Jugulare Tumours (Objectively Detectable)

Ready Reckoner

Key distinguishing features of the most common diagnoses

EarwaxHearing LossOtitis MediaOtosclerosisMénière’s Disease
Sudden OnsetYesNoYesNoPossible
Pain in EarPossibleNoYesNoNo
Rinne’s Test PositiveNoYesPossibleNoYes
VertigoPossibleNoPossibleNoYes
High-Pitched NoPossibleNoNoYes

Possible Investigations

Likely: None.

Possible:Tympanogram, audiogram, MRI scan (all usually in secondary care).

Small Print: FBC, U&E, skull X-ray, angiography (the latter two in secondary care).

  • FBC and U&E: If anaemia or renal failure suspected.
  • Tympanogram for middle-ear function and stapedial reflex threshold. Audiogram to assess hearing loss objectively
  • Cerebral angiography: If vascular pathology suspected.
  • MRI scan: The most sensitive way to examine the inner ear and skull for structural lesions.
  • Skull X-ray: If associated with significant head injury.

Top Tips

  • Most patients are afraid of the diagnosis of tinnitus because of its potentially debilitating nature. If the cause is clearly self-limiting or remediable, take time to reassure the patient.
  • Have a low threshold for referral in persistent tinnitus. While no specific treatment may be available, this shows that you are taking the problem seriously, ensures that remediable problems won’t be missed and may give the patient access to masking devices.
  • Be prepared to reassess ongoing tinnitus, as new symptoms may develop. For example, tinnitus may precede other symptoms in Ménière’s disease by months or even years.

Red Flags

  • Depression in tinnitus has been severe enough to cause suicide. Make a thorough psychological assessment and consider a trial of antidepressants.
  • Think of otosclerosis in younger patients (15–30) with persistent conductive deafness – especially if there is a family history. Early diagnosis is important.
  • Progressive unilateral deafness with tinnitus could be caused by an acoustic neuroma. Exclude by referring for an MRI scan.

Published: 2nd August 2022 Updated: 10th April 2024

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Nursing in Practice Reference is based on the best-selling book Symptom Sorter. The experts behind Nursing in Practice Reference are Marilyn Eveleigh who is Nursing in Practice’s editorial advisor and a primary care nurse in East Sussex, Dr Keith Hopcroft who is the co-author of Symptom Sorter, a GP in Essex and Pulse editorial advisor and Dr Poppy Freeman, a GP in Camden and also a clinical advisor to Pulse.