AN AYURVEDIC REVIEW OF KARNANADA W.S.R. TINNITUS

Karnanada considered as illness caused due to vitiated VataDosha in which a person hears different types of sound in absence of any relevant external stimulus. Now days, it can be considered as tinnitus, a disease with mul- tifactorial etiology. It may be concerned with unhealthy condition of only ear, ear with head disease, only head disease or may be associated with general body condition. In tinnitus patient got ringing, buzzing or other type of sound in one or both ears which might be constant and inconstant often associated with hearing loss. In Ayurveda it is described as preliminary symptoms of hearing loss, which without treatment or with incomplete or improper treatment will progress towards hearing loss. In present scenario of electronic devices which produces electro- magnetic waves (which are harmful to ear including whole body organs), number of such type of cases are in- creasing frequently worldwide. Causes of tinnitus according to modern medicine is unclear or having multiple etiologies therefore treatment guideline of tinnitus in modern practice is not definite hence prognosis of disease also remains uncertain. But in Ayurveda prognosis and line of treatment of Karnanada is mentioned and we can achieve good and satisfactory result. Keywords: Karnanada, Tinnitus, Ayurveda

How I manage patient with tinnitus?

ABSTRACTBackground: Tinnitus is believed to cause significant psychological distress leading to impairment in quality of life (QOL). Purpose: To assess the negative impact of tinnitus on patient’s QOL and discuss the management approach of tinnitus patient. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted within one year duration on 88 patients who experienced tinnitus. Patients from Otorhinolaryngology clinic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were evaluated based on socio-demographic data, clinical data and QOL. QOL was assessed using Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), a self-report questionnaire measuring 3 domains of QOL: functional, emotional and catastrophic scales. Result: Respondents consisted of 35 males (39.8%) and 53 females (60.2%), with mean age of 57.9±13.9 years old. Pure tone audiometry should be done at least once during the follow up period. Patients with persistent tinnitus had significantly higher mean THI total scores (p=0.042) and emotional subscale score (p=0.037) compared to patients with intermittent tinnitus. However, there were no significant associations between gender, duration of tinnitus and laterality of tinnitus with patient’s THI score. Discussion: All patients should have good history taking, proper physical examination and investigation. Those without the primary cause of tinnitus would be given tinnitus activity treatment by good counselling on tinnitus. Patient with vascular disorder would be given conservative treatment. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging was indicated in asymmetrical hearing loss with tinnitus. Computed tomography scan with contrast was indicated when there is pulsatile tinnitus with/without abnormal ear finding. Patients with high grades THI questionnaire would be referred to psychiatrist for further assessment. ABSTRAKLatar belakang: Tinitus diyakini dapat menyebabkan stress psikologi yang signifikan sehingga mengakibatkan penurunan kualitas hidup seseorang (Quality of Life / QOL). Tujuan: Menilai dampak negatif tinitus pada kualitas hidup penderita dan merencanakan penatalaksanaannya. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan studi potong lintang pada 88 penderita tinitus selama satu tahun. Penderita yang datang ke unit rawat jalan Telinga Hidung Tenggorok Bedah Kepala dan Leher (THT-KL), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) dilakukan evaluasi berdasarkan data demografi, data klinis dan QOL. Quality of life dinilai menggunakan Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), kuesioner tentang penderita yang mengukur 3 domain QOL: skala fungsional, emosional dan katastropik. Hasil: Responden terdiri dari 35 laki-laki (39,8%) dan 53 perempuan (60,2%), dengan rerata usia 57.9±13.9 tahun. Audiometri nada murni perlu dilakukan minimal satu kali selama periode penelitian. Penderita dengan tinitus persisten secara signifikan memiliki nilai rata-rata THI yang lebih tinggi (p=0.042) dan nilai emotional subscale (p=0.037) dibandingkan dengan penderita tinitus intermiten. Tidak ada hubungan yang signifikan antara jenis kelamin, durasi tinitus dan lateralisasi tinitus dengan nilai THI penderita. Diskusi: Semua penderita diperlukan anamnesis yang baik dan pemeriksaan fisik yang menyeluruh. Penderita tanpa penyebab primer dari tinitusnya akan diberikan terapi konseling tinitus yang baik. Penderita dengan gangguan pembuluh darah akan diberikan pengobatan konservatif. Kesimpulan: Magnetic resonance imaging perlu dilakukan pada gangguan pendengaran satu sisi dengan tinitus. Computed tomography scan dengan kontras dilakukan pada tinitus pulsatil dengan atau tanpa kelainan pada telinga. Pada pendertita dengan nilai kuesioner THI yang tinggi akan dirujuk ke psikiater untuk penilaian lebih lanjut.

The tinnitus patient information pack: usefulness in intrusive tinnitus

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine a tinnitus patient information pack’s (TPIP) usefulness in patients suffering with tinnitus with respect to their need for further tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and in reducing TRT cancellations and non-attenders. Design/methodology/approach The paper consists of prospective case series in a district general hospital ENT out-patient department. Findings Patients with tinnitus-related symptoms constitute around 2 per cent of the ENT OPD workload at the West Middlesex Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust, London, i.e., 365 patients with intrusive tinnitus were referred by the ENT surgeon for TRT; 56/365 patients (15.3 per cent) failed to attend and 60 (16.4 per cent) cancelled their appointments. The following year, a TPIP was administered to all tinnitus sufferers, despite the affliction’s intrusiveness, and told to contact the audiology department if they felt that TRT was required, which resulted in 43/233 patients (18.5 per cent) over a one-year period self-referring for TRT; 2/233 (0.9 per cent) did not attend, and 1/233 (0.4 per cent) were cancelled appointments. Practical implications The patient-focussed TPIP acts as an initial therapy for the tinnitus sufferer by providing reassurance and self-therapy. This results in patients who are less likely to seek TRT, leading to more efficient clinical resource usage (p<0.01). Originality/value The data suggest that all tinnitus sufferers presenting to ENT clinics could be handed a TPIP and empowered with the decision whether they require further intervention.