If you suffer from tinnitus, you’re certainly not alone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus. Many struggle with chronic tinnitus, while others have extreme tinnitus that is debilitating.
What is tinnitus? In general terms, it’s perceiving sound when none is present. Commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus can manifest in many different sounds. As mentioned, tinnitus can be an acute condition, or chronic and ongoing.
There are two kinds of tinnitus: subjective and objective.
*Subjective – A patient with subjective tinnitus hears head or ear noises that only they can perceive. Almost all tinnitus cases are subjective.
*Objective – Objective tinnitus is a rare form where the doctor is able to hear the “noise” during an examination. It may be caused by muscle contractions or a condition in the middle ear bone.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
In most cases, tinnitus symptoms involves hearing sounds that only its sufferers can perceive.
*Some of the most common sounds heard by tinnitus sufferers include roaring, buzzing, hissing, whistling, high-pitched ringing, and cricket-like sounds.
*Other types of tinnitus include hearing clicking sounds, or in the case of pulsatile tinnitus, hearing the noise of your heartbeat. Pulsatile tinnitus is typically related to blood flow through normal or abnormal blood vessels near the ear.
*In the condition known as Meniere’s disease, the sound is sometimes accompanied by hearing loss and dizziness.
*Tinnitus is often a symptom of other conditions, such as hearing loss, an ear infection, ear wax buildup, ear trauma, blood flow problems, tumors near the ear, pregnancy, anemia, and an overactive thyroid.
*The phantom noise heard by tinnitus sufferers can vary from a low roar to a high squeal, and is heard in one or both ears. The sound may be so loud that it makes it hard to concentrate or hear other sounds.
*Tinnitus may be heard all the time, or the sound may come and go.
Causes of Tinnitus
In some cases, an exact cause of tinnitus is not known. But a common cause is age-related hearing loss, as hearing worsens for many people as they age – particularly after age 60. What are other common causes?
*Loud noises are common sources of hearing loss, such as repetitive exposure to noises from heavy equipment, firearms, chain saw, and loud music. Tinnitus caused by short-term exposure to loud music is usually temporary, while long-term exposure can cause permanent damage.
*Earwax buildup is another common cause of tinnitus. Earwax protects the ear canal by slowing the growth of bacteria and trapping dirt. If too much of it accumulates and becomes too difficult to wash away naturally, it can cause irritation of the ear drum and/or hearing loss.
*Tinnitus may also be caused by stiffening of the bones in the middle ear. Known as otosclerosis, this condition can affect your hearing and cause tinnitus.
*Meniere’s disease is a less common cause of tinnitus, and is often caused by abnormal fluid pressure in the inner ear.
*Head or neck injuries can affect the nerves or brain function linked to hearing.
*Acoustic neuroma is a condition in which a benign tumor develops on the cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear. This condition usually just affects hearing in one ear.
*Pulsatile tinnitus, in which you can hear your own heartbeat, is related to blood flow through normal or abnormal blood vessels near the ear. It can also be caused by increased pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain.
Tinnitus Treatment
Treatment of tinnitus varies and depends on the cause. Some common treatment options are medications, masking devices, stress reduction techniques, biofeedback, lifestyle changes, and more.
There is no cure for most cases of tinnitus. While symptoms may come and go over time, they will likely recur if you’ve had them before. Monitoring your stress, diet, and exposure to loud music can lessen symptoms.