Is tinnitus an acoasm?

Abstract

Tinnitus and unspecific auditory hallucinations generally known as acoasms arise from identical or at least similar cerebral structures. Both phenomena can be interpreted as signs of an over activation of neuronal networks. Several pieces of evidence to underline this hypothesis as well as its implications are discussed. It is even speculated that both clinical entities might profit from treatment strategies that are normally employed for treatment of the other.