The tonic tensor tympani syndrome is a disease of the tensor tympani muscle, described by Klochoff et al in 1971. This is a decrease in the contraction threshold of tensor tympani. This hypercontraction (or spasms) leads to chronic ear pain and in particular in the case of hyperacusis and acoustic shock. These study opens an important understanding of the field of pain associated with hearing disorders.
Symptoms include a sensation of fullness in the ear, otalgia, tinnitus, dysacusis, tension headache and vertigo.