Subjective tinnitus in children with otological disorders.

Children attending ENT and audiology clinics and a further group interviewed in the partially hearing units of their schools have been questioned about tinnitus. A total of 79 children reported tinnitus during the course of the study. A wide variety of descriptions were given. Only 10 of the subjects found the symptom annoying. Only 17 of them could say when their tinnitus began. Of a group of 66 children with secretory otitis media, 43.9% reported tinnitus, while amongst 44 children with sensorineural hearing loss the incidence was 29.5%. Tinnitus is a common phenomenon in children with ear disease, but it is seldom reported spontaneously.