What is middle ear myoclonus?
Middle ear myoclonus (MEM) is a rare diagnosis of tinnitus that is presumed secondary to abnormal movement of the tensor tympani or stapedius muscles. This diagnosis has been primarily used in case reports in the otolaryngology literature,1 where the phenomenology of the tinnitus, when described, is highly variable.
How common is middle ear myoclonus?
It cannot be observed affecting the eardrum but can sometimes be heard outside the ear. MEM is quite rare, occurring in only about 6 in 10,000 people. But it can be maddening to have the thumping, clicking or buzzing sounds that will not stop.
What is tensor tympani myoclonus?
Tensor tympani syndrome, also known as the tensor tympani myoclonus) is a rare form of pulsatile, objective tinnitus, which includes various types of tensor tympani-associated tinnitus caused by contraction of the tensor tympani (TT) muscle.
How do I get rid of MEM tinnitus?
Treatment
- Behavioral therapy: This can help people reduce the internal attention to the sounds, help learn relaxation, and cope with the anxiety and depression that may come with experiencing tinnitus.
- Hearing aids: These may help if the sound is related to hearing loss.
How many people have middle ear myoclonus?
When these muscles spasm, the result can be middle ear myoclonus (MEM), also known as MEM tinnitus. MEM is a rare condition — occurring in about 6 of 10,000 people — in which tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in ears) is produced by repetitive and synchronized contractions of the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles.
Why do I hear thudding in my ear?
When plaque hardens, it narrows the arteries and limits the flow of blood to the body, including in your ears, neck or head. This may cause you to hear the characteristic rhythmic thumping or whooshing sound of pulsatile tinnitus in one or both of your ears.
Why do I hear vibrations in my ear?
Tinnitus is a problem that causes you to hear a noise in one ear or both ears. In most cases, people who have tinnitus hear noise in their head when no outside sound is there. People commonly think of it as ringing in the ear. It also can be roaring, clicking, buzzing, or other sounds.
Does myoclonus ever go away?
Most of the time, however, the underlying cause can’t be cured or eliminated, so treatment is aimed at easing myoclonus symptoms, especially when they’re disabling. There are no drugs specifically designed to treat myoclonus, but doctors have borrowed from other disease treatment arsenals to relieve myoclonic symptoms.
What does middle ear myoclonus ( Mem ) mean?
by Barry Keate. Middle Ear Myoclonus (MEM) is a rare form of objective tinnitus that can actually be heard by another person. It sounds pretty scary and unfathomable, but it’s not that difficult to understand. Myoclonus refers to the spasmodic jerky contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.
What does it mean to have middle ear tinnitus?
Middle Ear Myoclonus (MEM) is a rare form of objective tinnitus that can actually be heard by another person. It sounds pretty scary and unfathomable, but it’s not that difficult to understand. Myoclonus refers to the spasmodic jerky contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.
What does myoclonus stand for in medical category?
Myoclonus is a brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles. It describes a medical sign and, generally, is not a diagnosis of a disease.
How does stapedial myoclonus affect the middle ear?
Megan agrees and is ready to start immediately. Stapedial myoclonus is a condition that affects the middle ear muscles consisting of the stapedius and tensor tympani. The middle ear is responsible for controlling noise volume and transmitting sound from the outer ear to the inner ear.
