Typewriter Tinnitus: Diagnosis and Treatment

Clinical Characteristics

• Typewriter tinnitus presents with paroxysmal attacks of staccato, clicking sounds, caused by neurovascular compression of the cochlear nerve, and it responds remarkably well to carbamazepine, as recommended by the American College of Radiology 1, 2
• The tinnitus is paroxysmal and episodic, not continuous, with a pattern that separates it from common tinnitus types, according to the American College of Radiology 1, 2

Diagnostic Approach

• MRI with heavily T2-weighted thin-section sequences can detect neurovascular loops in contact with cranial nerve VIII, which is a key diagnostic tool for typewriter tinnitus, as suggested by the American College of Radiology 1, 2

Treatment Strategy

• Alternative treatments such as oxcarbazepine or gabapentin can be used with similar efficacy to carbamazepine, as reported by the American College of Radiology 1, 2