Clinical Assessment of the Somatosensory System

Patients with somatosensory tinnitus have received growing attention. Researchers and clinicians have been identifying a group of specific characteristics in such patients that pose it as a subtype of subjective tinnitus. Multiple interactions between the somatosensory and auditory systems have been studied so far, showing that different somatosensory stimuli can temporarily influence tinnitus perception, either by changing its loudness, pitch or location. Such influence may be induced through muscle contractions of head and neck muscles, pressure of myofascial trigger points, tactile stimulation of the skin, among others. Considering the importance of interdisciplinary management of tinnitus patients, health professionals involved with providing the first-line attendance for patients with tinnitus should differentiate this specific subgroup of subjects presenting somatosensory tinnitus. This chapter will show the updated criteria for diagnosing somatosensory tinnitus from medical and audiological point of view, providing practical information to the professionals. Diagnosing it by means of specific information collected during history taking and physical examination is likely to optimize referral of such patients to therapeutic options focused on treating musculoskeletal disorders.