Otology: tinnitus management: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Otology: tinnitus management

Sample item

A 55-year-old with bothersome bilateral idiopathic tinnitus and mild high-frequency hearing loss has a normal MRI. What is the most appropriate management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Counselling, sound enrichment and hearing aids

There is no drug cure for idiopathic subjective tinnitus. Counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, sound therapy and amplification of the hearing loss reduce the burden. Benzodiazepines are not advised long term.

Option by option

  • A. Cochlear implant

    A cochlear implant is for profound loss.

  • B. Long-term benzodiazepines

    Benzodiazepines risk dependence and offer little benefit.

  • C. Vestibular nerve section

    Nerve section is not indicated.

  • D. Counselling, sound enrichment and hearing aids (correct)

    Correct. Counselling, sound therapy and hearing aids are the mainstay.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Counselling, sound enrichment and hearing aids. There is no drug cure for idiopathic subjective tinnitus.

Why is "Cochlear implant" not the answer?

A cochlear implant is for profound loss.

Why is "Long-term benzodiazepines" not the answer?

Benzodiazepines risk dependence and offer little benefit.

Why is "Vestibular nerve section" not the answer?

Nerve section is not indicated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Otology: tinnitus management in ENT. Counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, sound therapy and amplification of the hearing loss reduce the burden. Benzodiazepines are not advised long term.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Otology: tinnitus management?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.