Tinnitus and sound intolerance: evidence and experience of a Brazilian group

Ektor Tsuneo Onishi, Cláudia Couto de Barros Coelho, Jeanne Oiticica, Ricardo Rodrigues Figueiredo, Rita de Cassia Cassou Guimarães, Tanit Ganz Sanchez, Adriana Lima Gürtler, Alessandra Ramos Venosa, André Luiz Lopes Sampaio, Andreia Aparecida Azevedo, Anna Paula Batista de Ávila Pires, Bruno Borges de Carvalho Barros, Carlos Augusto Costa Pires de Oliveira, Clarice Saba, Fernando Kaoru Yonamine, Ítalo Roberto Torres de Medeiros, Letícia Petersen Schmidt Rosito, Marcelo José Abras Rates, Márcia Akemi Kii, Mariana Lopes Fávero, Mônica Alcantara de Oliveira Santos, Osmar Clayton Person, Patrícia Ciminelli, Renata de Almeida Marcondes, Ronaldo Kennedy de Paula Moreira, Sandro de Menezes Santos Torres

Tinnitus and sound intolerance are frequent and subjective complaints that may have an impact on a patient's quality of life. To present a review of the salient points including concepts, pathophysiology, diagnosis and approach of the patient with tinnitus and sensitivity to sounds. Literature review with bibliographic survey in Pubmed database. Articles and book chapters on tinnitus and sound sensitivity were selected. The several topics were discussed by a group of Brazilian professionals and the conclusions were described. The prevalence of tinnitus has increased over the years, often associated with hearing loss, metabolic factors and inadequate diet. Medical evaluation should be performed carefully to guide the request of subsidiary exams. Currently available treatments range from medications to the use of sounds with specific characteristics and meditation techniques, with variable results. A review on tinnitus and auditory sensitivity was presented, allowing the reader a broad view of the approach to these patients, based on scientific evidence and national experience.