Tullio Phenomenon due to Infrasound-a Case Report

A patient with Tullio's phenomenon of the right ear was tested with infrasound through the auditory canal which was generated at 100115dB SPL of 1545Hz by an ear drum massager. Nystagmus towards the right was recorded on ENG when the infrasound was produced in the right ear and it shifted to the left when the infrasound was interrupted, but no nystagmus occurred when the left ear was exposed to infrasound. In stabilometry tests the area of the stabilogram was increased significantly when infrasound was produced in the right ear, but it was normal when the left ear was exposed to infrasound. These findings were believed to be elicited by the transmission of pressure from the ossicles to the membranous labyrinth which was speculated to be distended by endolymphatic hydrops. Probe tympanotomy was performed, and no abnormality of the middle ear was noted, but the symptoms of Tullio's phenomenon disappeared postoperatively.