Tinnitus definition
Tinnitus (pronounced ti-ni-tis), or ringing in the ears, is the sensation of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, or other sounds. The noise can be intermittent or continuous, and can vary in loudness. It is often worse when background noise is low, so you may be most aware of it at night when you're trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. In rare cases, the sound beats in sync with your heartTinnitus is very common, affecting an estimated 50 million adults in the U.S. For most people, the condition is merely an annoyance. In severe cases, however, tinnitus can cause people to have difficulty concentrating and sleeping. It may eventually interfere with work and personal relationships, resulting in psychological distress.
Although tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, it does not cause the loss, nor does a hearing loss cause tinnitus. In fact, some people with tinnitus experience no difficulty hearing, and in a few cases they even become so acutely sensitive to sound (hyperacusis) that they must take steps to muffle or mask external noises.
Tinnitus sounds
A person with tinnitus often hears "ringing in the ears," but they may also hear hissing, clicking, or whistling sounds. It can be temporary, or it can be chronic and persistent.Tinnitus causes
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds is the most common cause of tinnitus. Up to 90% of people with tinnitus have some level of noise-induced hearing loss. The noise causes permanent damage to the sound-sensitive cells of the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear. Carpenters, pilots, rock musicians, street-repair workers, and landscapers are among those whose jobs put them at risk, as are people who work with chain saws, guns, or other loud devices or who repeatedly listen to loud music.Some medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, certain antibiotics, and diuretics can be "ototoxic." They cause damage to the inner ear, resulting in tinnitus.
Other possible causes are:
- head and neck injuries
- ear infections
- a foreign object or earwax touching the eardrum
- eustachian tube (middle ear) problems
- temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- stiffening of the middle ear bones
- traumatic brain injury
- cardiovascular diseases
- diabetes
Tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is a non-auditory, internal sound that can be intermittent or continuous, in one or both ears, and either low- or high-pitched.The varying sounds have been described as whistling, chirping, clicking, screeching, hissing, static, roaring, buzzing, pulsing, whooshing, or musical.
The volume of the sound can fluctuate. It is often most noticeable at night or during periods of quiet. There may be some hearing loss.
Facts on tinnitus
Here are some key points about tinnitus.
- Around 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus.
- Most tinnitus is due to damage to the cochlea, or inner ear.
- Certain medications can cause or worsen tinnitus, for example, aspirin, particularly in large doses.
- People with tinnitus may be over-sensitive to loud noise.
- Most people learn to live with tinnitus, but help is available for those who find this difficult.
Tinnitus Triggers
Age-related hearing loss: For many people, hearing gets worse as you age. This usually begins around 60. It usually affects both ears. You’ll probably notice a problem with high-frequency sounds.Too much earwax: Your body makes this gunky stuff to trap dirt and protect your ears. But if it doesn't wash away on its own and too much piles up, it could lead to ringing or hearing loss. Your doctor can remove the buildup gently. Don't grab a cotton swab and try to do it yourself.
Certain medicines: Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can trigger ringing or make it louder. This includes aspirin, diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), quinine-based medication, and certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and cancer drugs. Usually the stronger the dose, the greater your chance of problems. Often if you stop the drug, your symptoms will go away. See your doctor if you think a drug may be to blame. But don't stop taking any medication without talking to your doctor first.
Ear and sinus infections: You might notice tinnitus when you've had a cold. That could be due to an ear or sinus infection that affects your hearing and increases pressure in your sinuses. If that's the cause, it shouldn’t last long. If it doesn't get better after a week or so, see your doctor.
Tinnitus Diagnosis
You should see your GP if you have a problem with your hearing, such as hearing ringing or buzzing sounds.They will ask you some questions about your symptoms, such as:
- Does the sound come and go, or is it continuous?
- Does the problem affect one or both ears?
- Is the problem having an impact on your everyday life?
- Have you noticed any other symptoms, such as hearing loss or vertigo (a spinning sensation)?
- They may also want to know whether you're taking any medication that could cause the condition, such as high doses of antibiotics or aspirin.
They will examine the outside and inside of your ear to check for obvious problems they may be able to treat, such as an earwax build-up or an ear infection.
Tinnitus Cure/treatment
There's currently no single treatment for tinnitus that works for everyone. However, research to find an effective treatment is continuing.If an underlying cause of your tinnitus can be found, effectively treating it may help improve your tinnitus – for example, removing a build-up of earwax might help.
Tinnitus home remedies
Here are some other things a person can do to manage tinnitus and its effects.
Sound therapy uses external noise to mask the individual's perception of tinnitus. Low-level background music, white noise, or specialized ear maskers can help.The choice of sound should be pleasant to the individual. Masking devices offer temporary relief, and the awareness of tinnitus returns when the sound therapy is turned off.
Hearing aids are a common type of sound therapy. They amplify environmental sounds and redirect attention to those noises instead of the tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) involves retraining the auditory system to accept the abnormal sounds of tinnitus as natural rather than disruptive.
It involves help from a trained professional and wearing a device that emits low-level white noise. Ongoing counseling sessions can help people cope with the tinnitus.
This therapy's success is proportionate to the severity of the tinnitus and the individual's overall mental health.
Follow-up studies suggest that TRT provides relief for around 80 percent of people with tinnitus.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help relieve depression in people with tinnitus, although it does not appear to reduce the sound.
Can I treat tinnitus naturally?
- Avoid possible irritants. Reduce your exposure to things that may make your tinnitus worse. ...
- Cover up the noise. In a quiet setting, a fan, soft music or low-volume radio static may help mask the noise from tinnitus.
- Manage stress. Stress can make tinnitus worse. ...
- Reduce your alcohol consumption.
Is there any relief from tinnitus?
There are a few that will help suppress the symptoms you are experiencing. Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline and nortriptyline, are two of the most commonly prescribed medications. If you are experiencing severe tinnitus, one of these drugs may be used.loud music, and possible future hearing problems
One study found that out of 170 teenagers, over half had experienced tinnitus in the previous year. Research has proposed that "potentially risky leisure habits," such as listening to loud music on personal devices, could trigger tinnitus.However, the investigators found that those who were prone to tinnitus tended to keep their music volume down, suggsting they may already have a hidden susceptibility to hearing loss in the future.
They propose monitoring for tinnitus and a low tolerance for loud noise from an early age, as these could be early signs of future hearing loss.