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Complete Tinnitus Guide

Are you experiencing a ringing sensation in your inner ear? Or do quiet places seem to haunt your ears? If so, you are experiencing tinnitus. Perception of a ringing, hissing, whistling or buzzing sound in the inner ear without any external sound is referred to as tinnitus.

Tinnitus is not that uncommon. Statistics show that it affects 15 to 20% of the population and is most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 50. Tinnitus caused by age-related factors becomes worse with time and remains persistent.

The phantom of sound heard in tinnitus can range from low to high pitch and, in some cases, remain constant; it entirely depends on the underlying cause. A person suffering from tinnitus may hear sounds in both or either of their ears.

Inflammation or injury in the inner ear or circulatory system disorders is responsible for causing tinnitus. If the case is chronic, it may even lead to the loss of permanent hearing ability.

Living with tinnitus is not an easy task as it looks to the outside world. Low background sounds trigger tinnitus symptoms, making it difficult to fall asleep in a quiet room, which may lead to anxiety and stress, thus affecting the quality of life. You will start feeling annoyed as ringing sensations make it difficult for you to carry out daily chores with ease.

A recent report states that people working in construction agencies or agencies where they have to deal with prolonged loud noises are at a higher risk of being affected by tinnitus.

Treating tinnitus is not as tough as it seems. Seek medical help on time to subdue tinnitus symptoms fast and get back to the daily routine. An expert neurologist will ask you to undergo various vertigo tests to examine the underlying causes of your tinnitus. He would suggest the right tinnitus treatment and therapies to reduce the noises in the ear after tinnitus diagnosis for a speedy recovery.

Tinnitus is widely categorized into two parts

  • A majority of the population experiences subjective tinnitus, where a person suffering from tinnitus only hears the ringing sensation and not the other person.
  • In a very rare case, the ringing sound can be heard by the patient and the doctor who is examining the condition.

In this article, we will share a brief overview of tinnitus. Its symptoms, causes, and how medical personnel treats it.

What are the common Tinnitus causes?

Tinnitus can be caused by inflammation or injury in the inner ear or circulatory system disorders. Apart from that, various other causes lead to a ringing sensation in the inner ear. Let’s go through the list of some common tinnitus causes diagnosed by medical professionals:

Presbycusis or Age-related hearing loss

The age factor is one such important factor that leads to tinnitus. People over the age of 50 are more likely to be diagnosed. Hearing loss is one of the most common complaints among people who fall into the age group of 50–75 years old. Tinnitus can be one such reason for hearing loss as age progresses.

Exposure to Loud noises

Prolonged exposure to loud noises can lead to tinnitus. It can even be caused by short-term exposure to loud noises. People who work in construction agencies or work behind the scenes at rock concerts are at a higher risk of developing tinnitus.

Earwax Build-up

Earwax buildup can be one such cause of tinnitus. Wax is produced in the ear to protect it and lubricate the hair cells. Cleaning wax with an earbud sometimes results in pushing them further, thereby resulting in a blockage that starts showing tinnitus symptoms later on.

Head Injuries or Neck injuries

An injury to the head or neck sometimes results in affecting the inner ear, thereby causing tinnitus. In such cases, a person experiences ringing sensations in one ear only.

Medical Conditions

Hypertension, anemia, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. are some of the common medical conditions that lead to tinnitus.

Medications

Sometimes a higher dose of some medicines can cause tinnitus or even worsen the situation. Certain antibiotics, water pills, cancer medications, and aspirin are some of the common medications that are known to cause tinnitus or make the situation worse.

Meniere’s disease

The fluid build-up in the inner ear can be one such cause of tinnitus.

Caffeine and Alcoholic beverages

Excessive intake of nicotine, alcohol and caffeine can even lead to tinnitus.

Smoking

People who are prone to smoking or are chain smokers are at a higher risk of developing tinnitus.

Acoustic Neuroma

It can cause tinnitus in one ear as the non-cancerous (benign) tumor develops on the cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear and is responsible for balancing and hearing.

What are the Common Tinnitus symptoms?

Here is a list of some common tinnitus symptoms that need immediate medical attention:

  • Ringing, hissing, whistling, clicking, roaring, or buzzing in the inner ear
  • Fatigue
  • Stress
  • Difficulty in sleeping
  • Concentration problems
  • Memory issues
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Dizziness due to Meniere’s disease

It is advised to seek medical help if you experience any of the tinnitus symptoms. Seeking medical help on time helps in alleviating tinnitus symptoms eventually.

Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment

If you are experiencing any of the tinnitus symptoms, consult an expert neurologist. He would ask you to undergo various vertigo tests for tinnitus diagnosis. He would suggest the right tinnitus treatment and therapies. Apart from that, your doctor will seek your complete medical history. If any medicine is responsible for triggering a condition, he may ask you to stop certain drugs immediately.

Here is a list of Some Common Tinnitus treatments

Hearing Aids

If a person is experiencing hearing loss due to tinnitus, a doctor may advise wearing a hearing aid in the affected ear. A well-fitted hearing aid improves hearing efficiency by reducing the distracting sound in the inner ear.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT is the best therapy to treat tinnitus as it reduces the sound heard in the inner ear by making it less noticeable. Doctors advise Tinnitus Retraining Therapy as one of the best tinnitus treatments as it makes you accept the annoying sounds in the inner ear.

In this therapy, a device is inserted in the ear that helps in generating a sound that matches the pitch of the ringing sensation experienced by the patient suffering from tinnitus.

Doctors generally recommend continuing Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) for at least a year or two to alleviate symptoms completely.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is another therapy like TRT that is quite effective in treating patients suffering from tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy even helps in making the sounds heard in the inner ear less noticeable. It helps in changing the patient’s perception and the way they respond to tinnitus.

Written By

I am a professional blogger who has written a couple of informative pieces and blogs in various domains starting from the healthcare industry, latest advancements in technology, social media practices, latest trends, and so on. I practice my best to keep my knowledge updated with the latest happenings in the world and take an initiative to share my knowledge and views about the concerning subject to my followers.

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