Tinnitus to the inner ear can cause tinnitus, other apparent causes (e.g., temporomandibular joint dysfunction) are difficult to explain. It may be caused by increased neural activity in the auditory brainstem, where the brain processes sounds, causing some auditory nerve cells to become over-excited. The basis of this theory is that many with tinnitus also have hearing loss. Three reviews of 2016 emphasized the large range and possible combinations of pathologies involved in tinnitus, which in turn result in a great variety of symptoms demanding specifically adapted therapies. Even when tinnitus is the primary complaint, audiological evaluation is usually preceded by
American Tinnitus Association American Tinnitus Association The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) purpose is to promote relief, help prevent, and find cures for tinnitus. Starting in 1980, the association has granted close to $6 million dollars in funding for tinnitus research. Many of these researchers have gone on to receive larger grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) based on ATA-funded research. Contributions to the association also go towards advocacy work in Washington, D.C. The ATA was created as resource for the under served tinnitus community. Many tinnitus patients had been routinely disregarded by physicians who did not have the information they needed