Tinnitus in Children
The most comprehensive research for tinnitus in children was carried out on 15199 children in Poland. Incidence of tinnitus in children was observed to be 6% in these researches. In addition, it has been observed that hearing loss and tinnitus are significantly related in children. It has been determined that children with tinnitus usually have moderate hearing loss. Tinnitus is seen more often in hearing impaired children. It is clear that there is a close relation between the severity of hearing loss and incidence of tinnitus in children. If hearing loss is more towards high frequencies, it is observed more.
It must be noted that there may be tinnitus risk in the children who are engaged in music during school and adolescence. It should be known that a musical instrument with a loud volume and a chosen music genre might be important for tinnitus. The risk increases depending on the choice. The most important factor in early treatments is the reduction of noise and high sound risk.
But, if children have lateral tinnitus and hearing loss, MRI examination should be done absolutely. Possibility of a non-malignant tumour of the nerve called Vestibularschwannoma should be eliminated. In a study conducted in 2015, 65 children with tinnitus were screened by MRI and hearing tests. As a result of this study, it was revealed that nine children had demyelinating changes in the nerves out of 65 children, to whom brain MRI were performed. Three of them were found to be compatible with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is the disease of protective sheath (myelin sheath) around the nerve fibres that carry messages in the brain and spinal cord. It emerges as the result of physical destruction of central nervous system and cervical vertebrae enabling information communication between organs on the myelin layer. Sclerosed tissues (sclerosis) takes place where the sheat is damaged. This sclerosed area is called as plaque. These plaques may arise in many places within nervous system and prevent the transmission of messages throughout the nerves. Intracranial pressure increase was detected in two children. Headache and double vision complaints were also observed in these two children at the same time. According to the key point of this study, it must be paid attention if there is tinnitus in children.
Hearing loss and/or tinnitus can be seen at high rate in children and adults with fractures of temporal bone through which hearing nerves pass, particularly during falling, severe impacts, traffic accidents (in and out of vehicle). Tinnitus takes long time in such cases. It must be known that complaints don't disappear until 12 months for such situations. It is highly likely to be permanent. Immediate interventions must be taken in these situations.
Tinnitus may also be seen besides hearing loss in the case of sudden hearing loss in children. It has been reported in the case series of 37 children having this complaint that early intervention in treating tinnitus and hearing loss is very important.
Moreover, it must be noted that many situations may cause tinnitus in children and these kinds of disorders must be investigated sufficiently.
Many different diseases related to tinnitus in children have been reported in scientific studies. It has been reported that increased pressure in the head (inter-cranial hypertension) can result in both hearing loss and tinnitus. If there is tinnitus in the child, it should be investigated whether there is an increased intracranial pressure. Increased intra-cranial pressure may also give such symptoms as vertigo, diplopia, nausea and vomiting. In addition, tinnitus can also be seen in middle ear infections, epilepsy (heart), heart disease, juvenile (young) meniere and lyme diseases; and sometimes accompanied by hearing loss.
FMRI and hearing tests should absolutely be performed in the children of tinnitus and/or hearing loss disorder. The underlying reason must be determined. It must be noted that tinnitus and hearing loss can be recovered for some children when determined.
