Tinnitus is the continuous experience of ringing or other noises in one or both ears. It is a common ear disorder that affects 15-20% of the population. Tinnitus is not a disease by itself, but a symptom of some other underlying condition. Tinnitus can be age-related, hearing loss,certain medication, ear infection, ear injury, inner ear diseases, inner ear tumors, anatomical abnormalities or even psychological.
Early diagnosis of the cause of tinnitus and treatment can be helpful.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound that has no external source. People afflicted with tinnitus often describe it as sounding like ringing, hissing, roaring, buzzing, or whooshing, and it can be perceived in one or both ears. Some people experience tinnitus intermittently; others hear it constantly. Stress, fatigue, anxiety, and other triggers can exacerbate the sound.
First, schedule a consultation with Dr Rohini . To determine the cause and severity of your tinnitus, we will examine your ears, ask about your hearing health, and conduct audiometric testing. Using the information we gather, we will explore the best treatment options for your tinnitus. If medically necessary, we may refer you to another physician to complete the diagnosis.
In many cases, tinnitus dissipates on its own regardless of the cause. However, that doesn’t mean you should wait weeks, months, or even years for your tinnitus to disappear. If your tinnitus continues for more than a couple of weeks and negatively affects your quality of life, consult an audiologist. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can find a treatment protocol to resolve your tinnitus. This is especially important if your tinnitus grows louder over time, as this may indicate that you suffer from progressive hearing loss.
Some people suffer from long-term or permanent tinnitus. In these cases, one or more of the causes of tinnitus is likely auditory malfunction, which is often caused by hearing loss from loud noise exposure. When the brain attempts to compensate for this malfunction, it can start a vicious cycle that ends in tinnitus. To better understand how this cycle works and how you can end it, consult with an audiologist.
No. Over-the-counter substances and herbal remedies do not work in the treatment of tinnitus. No reliable scientific evidence proves that such substances have any impact on tinnitus. This includes Lipoflavonoid, which has not been approved by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent tinnitus. Many of these products are essentially multi-vitamins. Be wary of anecdotal success stories. Sometimes when people take over-the-counter treatments, this coincides with their natural relief from tinnitus, leading them to believe that the treatment has worked. A short-term placebo effect can also cause someone to believe an ineffectual treatment is effective.
For the vast majority of people tinnitus is a spontaneously occurring condition. Although there are recognized triggers, such as exposure to excessively loud noise, for most of us that ringing starts for no reason. However, that said, a few people do have tinnitus as a result of a treatable condition, such as excess earwax or high blood pressure.
Yes! It’s not uncommon to suffer mild hearing loss in addition to tinnitus. Without the distraction of sounds external to the ear, this amplifies how much you notice the tinnitus and makes it more intrusive. Diagnosing hearing loss and wearing a hearing device can greatly reduce how aware you are of the tinnitus, and improve your quality of life on both fronts.
The buzzing of tinnitus is often most noticeable against a backdrop of silence, such as at night. This can make it difficult to get to sleep as the constant ringing is like the buzzing of an ever-present alarm clock that interrupts your rest. However, there are strategies you can put in place to aid a good night’s sleep. If you are suffering from tinnitus or think you might be, it’s important to speak with a qualified hearing care professional. Tinnitus doesn’t have to control your life; schedule an appointment with a hearing health specialist in your area today!
Chronic loud noise such as the noise from a construction site, airplanes, or loud music can damage the nerves and cells in the ear and cause tinnitus. Acute loud noises like a bomb blast can also cause nerve damage and leave the patient with tinnitus. Tinnitus is one of the most common reasons for armed service-related disability.
There is no "cure" for tinnitus. Often the symptoms are transient and related to an episode of sound exposure, infection, or eardrum irritation and will go away on their own. Some people have known triggers of their tinnitus such as caffeine, alcohol, dairy, or chewing gum. Avoidance of things that may reproduce tinnitus such as avoiding loud music or noises, keeping blood pressure under control, and decreasing salt intake may help. Some lifestyle changes can also help with the symptoms of tinnitus such as getting regular exercise, practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga, and using a white noise machine at night (to cover up the tinnitus sound).
Tinnitus can be the first sign of hearing loss. Damage to the auditory nerve as we age sometimes manifests itself as a ringing or buzzing noise in the ear. Tinnitus can also have a rhythm in time with your heartbeat, called pulsatile tinnitus. This can be caused by a problem with blood flow from the head or neck, and you should check with your doctor if you notice this symptom.
Tinnitus that is caused by damage to the auditory nerve from loud or repetitive noises can be prevented, or prevented from worsening, by avoiding the source of the loud noise or wearing ear protection such as earplugs or earmuffs.
Treatment of tinnitus depends upon the cause. Treatments for tinnitus may include:
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