1. occlusion of external ear: cerumen, foreign body
2. middle ear infection (otitis media)
3. otosclerosis
4. stapedial muscle spasms: as occurs in hemifacial spasm
5. CP-angle tumors: including vestibular schwannoma
6. Meniere’s disease
7. labyrinthitis
8. endolymphatic sac tumors: e.g. as in von Hippel-Lindau disease
9. drugs
a) salicylates:aspirin,bismuthsubsalicylate(PeptoBismol®)
b) quinine
c) aminoglycoside toxicity: streptomycin, tobramycin (tinnitus precedes hearing loss)