What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus happens when you hear ringing in your ears. The ringing you hear when you have tinnitus is not caused by an external sound and cannot be heard by others. Tinnitus can also sound like a cracling, whooshing, humming or cicada-like sound. Tinnitus is a common problem and is especially common in older adults.
Tinnitus is often a symptom of other problems within the inner ear and may be associated with conditions such as hearing loss, ear infections or exposure to loud noises.
What are the symptoms of Tinnitus?
Ringing in the ear is the most common symptoms of tinnitus. However, tinnitus may also include other types of noies such as buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing or humming. Those noises of tinnitus may vary in pitch and you may hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, tinnitus may be so loud it interferes with your ability to concentrate or hear external sound.
What causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a common symptom of some medical conditions, some common causes of tinnitus include:
- Age-related hearing loss: When hearing loss occurs, your brain receives less stimulation but your auditory nerve may still be firing as it always had. This may cause you to hear sounds that aren't really there. About 1 in 3 older adults above the age of 65 develop tinitus.
- Noise-induced hearing loss: Exposure to loud noises can cause hearing loss and tinnitus. This may happen over time or from a single accident such as an explosion or a close gunshot.
- Ear injuries: Certain injuries may injure nerves or areas of your brain involved with hearing. People who get tinnitus after an injury usually only have ringing in one ear.
- Medications: Certain drugs, including some antibiotics, antidepressants, cancer drugs and NSAIDS, may cause tinnitus.
What are the risk factors of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus may be experienced by anyone but there are factors that increases your risk:
- Age: As you age, the number of functioning nerves in your ears decline, which may possibly cause hearing problems associated with tinnitus.
- Sex: Men are more likely to experience tinnitus.
- Exposure to loud noises: Loud noises are common sources of noise-related hearing loss. This could come from heavy machinary, firearms, or loud concerts. People who work in noisy environments, such as those working in construction, musicians or soldiers, are at a higher risk.
- Tobacco and alcohol use: Smoking and drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing tinnitus.
- Pre-existing health conditions: Obesity, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and arthritis are some conditions that may increase your risk of tinnitus.
How do you manage Tinnitus?
Some ways you may be recommended to manage your tinnitus include:
- Using a noise machine: You can listen to white noise, nature sounds, or ambient soundscape to help distract your brain and reduce your tinnitus symptoms.
- Wearing in-ear noise generators: These are earbuds which emit a continuous white noise hum for tinnitus relief.
How is Tinnitus diagnosed?
Hearing Test
You'll be made to sit in a soundproof room wearing earphones that transmit specific sounds into one ear at a time and you'll be asked when you can hear the sound. Your results will be compared to what is considered normal for your age.
Imaging Tests
You may be asked to perform imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans depending on the suspected cause of your tinnitus,
