TY - JOUR
T1 - Tinnitus as an alarm bell
T2 - Stress reaction tinnitus model
AU - Alpini, D.
AU - Cesarani, A.
PY - 2006/3
Y1 - 2006/3
N2 - Stress is a significant factor influencing the clinical course of tinnitus. Auditory system is particularly sensitive to the effects of different stress factors (chemical, oxidative, emotional, etc.). Different stages of reaction (alarm, resistance, exhaustion) lead to different characteristics of tinnitus and different therapeutic approaches. Individual characteristics of stress reaction may explain different aspects of tinnitus in various patients with different responses to treatment, despite similar audiological and ethiological factors. A model based on individual reactions to stress factors (stress reaction tinnitus model) could explaintinnitus as an alarm signal, just like an 'alarm bell', informing the patient that something potentially dangerous for subject homeostasis is happening. Tinnitus could become a disabling symptom when the subject is chronically exposed to a stress factor and is unable to switch off the alarm. Stress signals, specific for each patient, have to be identified during the 'alarm' phase in order to prevent an evolution toward the 'resistance' and 'exhaustion' phases. In these phases, identification of stressor is no more sufficient, due to the organization of a 'paradoxical auditory memory' and a 'pathologically shifted attention to tinnitus'. Identification of stress reaction phase requires accurate otolaryngology and anamnesis combined with audiological matching tests (Feldman Masking Test, for example) and psychometric questionnaires (Tinnitus Reaction and Tinnitus Cognitive Questionnaires).
AB - Stress is a significant factor influencing the clinical course of tinnitus. Auditory system is particularly sensitive to the effects of different stress factors (chemical, oxidative, emotional, etc.). Different stages of reaction (alarm, resistance, exhaustion) lead to different characteristics of tinnitus and different therapeutic approaches. Individual characteristics of stress reaction may explain different aspects of tinnitus in various patients with different responses to treatment, despite similar audiological and ethiological factors. A model based on individual reactions to stress factors (stress reaction tinnitus model) could explaintinnitus as an alarm signal, just like an 'alarm bell', informing the patient that something potentially dangerous for subject homeostasis is happening. Tinnitus could become a disabling symptom when the subject is chronically exposed to a stress factor and is unable to switch off the alarm. Stress signals, specific for each patient, have to be identified during the 'alarm' phase in order to prevent an evolution toward the 'resistance' and 'exhaustion' phases. In these phases, identification of stressor is no more sufficient, due to the organization of a 'paradoxical auditory memory' and a 'pathologically shifted attention to tinnitus'. Identification of stress reaction phase requires accurate otolaryngology and anamnesis combined with audiological matching tests (Feldman Masking Test, for example) and psychometric questionnaires (Tinnitus Reaction and Tinnitus Cognitive Questionnaires).
KW - Gyngko biloba
KW - Intratympanic dexamethasone
KW - Melatonin
KW - Stress reaction
KW - Temporomandibular joint
KW - Tinnitus
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U2 - 10.1159/000090488
DO - 10.1159/000090488
M3 - Article
C2 - 16514260
AN - SCOPUS:33750979576
VL - 68
SP - 31
EP - 36
JO - ORL; journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties
JF - ORL; journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties
SN - 0301-1569
IS - 1
ER -