Causes of buzzing in ears. Tinnitus: Causes, Treatments, and Effective Management Strategies

23.01.202105.06.2021 by alexxlab

What are the common causes of tinnitus. How can tinnitus be effectively treated. What management strategies provide relief for tinnitus sufferers. What role do hearing aids play in tinnitus treatment. How does stress affect tinnitus symptoms.

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Understanding Tinnitus: A Comprehensive Overview

Tinnitus is a perplexing condition characterized by the perception of sounds without an external source. These phantom noises can manifest in various forms, including ringing, buzzing, clicking, roaring, whistling, or hissing. The intensity of these sounds can range from barely noticeable to overwhelmingly loud, significantly impacting an individual’s quality of life.

Approximately 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus, with about 12 million seeking professional treatment due to its disruptive nature. While tinnitus can affect people of all ages, it is less common in children. The condition can occur in one or both ears, or it may be perceived as originating from within the head itself.

The Impact of Tinnitus on Daily Life

For many individuals, tinnitus episodes are brief, lasting only a few seconds or minutes. However, for those with chronic tinnitus, the persistent sounds can lead to:

Sleep disturbances
Difficulty concentrating
Challenges with reading and focus
Negative emotional responses (frustration, despair, depression)

Given its potential to significantly impact daily functioning, it’s crucial for individuals experiencing bothersome tinnitus to seek evaluation from healthcare professionals, such as otolaryngologists and audiologists.

Unraveling the Causes of Tinnitus

While the exact cause of tinnitus remains elusive in many cases, several factors have been identified as potential contributors to its development:

Hearing loss
Exposure to loud noises
Head injuries
Medication side effects
Blood pressure irregularities
Ear canal obstructions (e.g., wax buildup)
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Cardiovascular issues
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
Dental problems

Is tinnitus always a sign of an underlying medical condition? Not necessarily. While tinnitus can be associated with various health issues, it’s important to note that in many cases, no specific medical cause can be identified. However, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.

Red Flags: When to Seek Immediate Medical Evaluation

Certain characteristics of tinnitus may indicate a more serious underlying condition. Seek prompt medical evaluation if you experience:

Tinnitus isolated to one ear
Pulsatile tinnitus (sounds synchronized with your heartbeat)
Sudden onset or fluctuating tinnitus accompanied by hearing loss
Pressure or fullness in one or both ears
Dizziness or balance problems coinciding with tinnitus

Diagnostic Approaches for Tinnitus

How do healthcare professionals diagnose tinnitus? The diagnostic process typically involves a multi-faceted approach:

Comprehensive medical history
Physical examination
Audiological evaluation
Imaging studies (in some cases)
Specialized tinnitus assessments

An otolaryngologist will conduct a thorough examination to rule out any underlying medical causes, while an audiologist will perform detailed hearing tests to assess any associated hearing loss and evaluate the characteristics of the tinnitus.

Advanced Diagnostic Tools

In addition to standard audiometric tests, several specialized assessments may be employed:

Tinnitus pitch matching
Loudness matching
Minimum masking level determination
Residual inhibition testing

These tests help quantify the tinnitus experience and guide treatment planning.

Tinnitus Treatment: A Multi-Faceted Approach

Can tinnitus be cured? While there is currently no definitive cure for tinnitus, numerous treatment options can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. The most effective approach often involves a combination of strategies tailored to the individual’s specific needs.

Hearing Aids: A Dual-Purpose Solution

How do hearing aids help with tinnitus? For many individuals with tinnitus, hearing aids serve a dual purpose:

Amplification of environmental sounds, making tinnitus less noticeable
Improved communication, reducing stress associated with hearing difficulties

By increasing the volume of soft environmental sounds and enhancing speech clarity, hearing aids can effectively mask tinnitus and improve overall auditory perception.

Sound Therapy: Masking and Habituation

Sound therapy is a cornerstone of tinnitus management. Various devices and techniques are employed:

Sound generators: Ear-level devices producing broadband “white noise”
Combination instruments: Hearing aids with built-in sound generators
Environmental enrichment devices: Tabletop sound machines, smartphone apps

These tools aim to either mask the tinnitus or promote habituation, helping the brain learn to ignore the phantom sounds.

Psychological Approaches to Tinnitus Management

How does stress affect tinnitus? Many individuals report that stress exacerbates their tinnitus symptoms. Consequently, psychological interventions play a crucial role in tinnitus management:

Relaxation Techniques

Learning to manage stress can significantly impact tinnitus perception. Effective relaxation strategies include:

Meditation
Mindfulness therapy
Progressive muscle relaxation
Deep breathing exercises

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a structured therapeutic approach that helps individuals:

Identify and challenge negative thought patterns related to tinnitus
Develop coping strategies
Reduce tinnitus-related distress

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT combines sound therapy with educational counseling to promote habituation to tinnitus. This approach aims to retrain the brain’s reaction to tinnitus, reducing its perceived impact over time.

Lifestyle Modifications for Tinnitus Management

Can lifestyle changes help manage tinnitus? Absolutely. Several lifestyle modifications can contribute to better tinnitus control:

Protect your hearing: Use ear protection in noisy environments
Limit caffeine and alcohol intake: These substances can exacerbate tinnitus in some individuals
Maintain a healthy sleep routine: Adequate rest can help reduce tinnitus-related stress
Exercise regularly: Physical activity can improve overall well-being and potentially reduce tinnitus perception
Practice good cardiovascular health: Addressing hypertension and other cardiovascular issues may help alleviate tinnitus

Dietary Considerations

While no specific diet has been proven to cure tinnitus, some individuals report symptom improvement with certain dietary changes:

Reducing salt intake
Limiting processed foods
Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables
Staying well-hydrated

It’s important to note that dietary effects on tinnitus can vary greatly between individuals. Consulting with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian can help develop a personalized nutrition plan.

Emerging Treatments and Future Directions

What new treatments are on the horizon for tinnitus sufferers? Research into tinnitus management is ongoing, with several promising avenues being explored:

Neuromodulation Techniques

These approaches aim to alter neural activity associated with tinnitus:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Vagus nerve stimulation

While still in experimental stages, these techniques show potential for providing relief to some tinnitus sufferers.

Pharmacological Interventions

Although no drug has been FDA-approved specifically for tinnitus treatment, research continues into potential pharmaceutical solutions:

Antidepressants
Anxiolytics
Anticonvulsants
Novel compounds targeting specific neural pathways

It’s important to note that any medication use for tinnitus should be under the strict guidance of a healthcare professional.

Living with Tinnitus: Coping Strategies and Support

How can individuals effectively cope with chronic tinnitus? Developing a comprehensive management plan is key:

Education and Awareness

Understanding tinnitus can help reduce anxiety and improve coping skills. Reliable resources include:

American Tinnitus Association
British Tinnitus Association
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Support Groups

Connecting with others who experience tinnitus can provide valuable emotional support and practical advice. Many organizations offer both in-person and online support groups.

Mindfulness and Acceptance

Practicing mindfulness and acceptance techniques can help individuals reduce tinnitus-related distress:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Yoga and tai chi

These approaches focus on accepting the presence of tinnitus while shifting attention away from it, potentially reducing its perceived impact on daily life.

Tinnitus Management Apps

Several smartphone applications have been developed specifically for tinnitus management:

Sound therapy apps
Tinnitus tracking and journaling apps
Relaxation and meditation apps

While these apps can be helpful tools, it’s important to use them in conjunction with professional medical advice.

In conclusion, while tinnitus can be a challenging condition, a wide array of management strategies and treatments are available. By working closely with healthcare professionals and adopting a multifaceted approach, many individuals with tinnitus can achieve significant symptom relief and improved quality of life. As research continues, new and more effective treatments may emerge, offering hope for even better outcomes in the future.

Tinnitus: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear sounds when there is no outside source of the sounds. The sounds can have many different qualities (ringing, clicking, buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing) and can be perceived as soft or loud.

Usually, the person experiencing the tinnitus is the only one who can hear the sounds. Tinnitus can occur either with or without hearing loss, and can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head.

Approximately 50 million Americans have some form of tinnitus. For most people, the sensation usually lasts only a few seconds or up to a few minutes at a time. For others about 12 million people, the tinnitus is constant or recurs and interferes with their daily life so much that they seek professional treatment. For these individuals, tinnitus may result in a loss of sleep, difficulty with concentration or reading, and can create negative emotional reactions such as despair, frustration and depression.

People of any age can suffer from tinnitus, although it not as common in children. Everyone who has bothersome tinnitus should have it evaluated by a healthcare provider such as an otolaryngologist and audiologist.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes tinnitus?

Although the exact cause of tinnitus is unknown, the most common identifiable causes of tinnitus include:

Hearing loss
Exposure to loud noises
Head injury
Medication side effects
High or low blood pressure
Wax buildup in the ear canal
Fluid buildup behind the eardrum
Problems of the heart, blood vessels, neck, jaw or teeth

It is important to have your tinnitus evaluated by a medical professional to rule out a medical cause for it. It is especially important to see an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) if you experience:

Tinnitus in only one ear
Tinnitus that sounds like your heartbeat or is pulsating (pulsatile tinnitus)
Tinnitus with sudden or fluctuating hearing loss
Pressure or fullness in one or both ears
Dizziness or balance problems accompanying tinnitus

Otherwise, see an audiologist for a hearing test and to begin a discussion about your tinnitus.

Management and Treatment

What is the treatment for tinnitus?

Ruling out any medical reasons for the tinnitus is important so that appropriate medical treatment can be taken. The majority of tinnitus, however, has no known cause, so the next step is determining the best option for relief of the condition. Treatment options for tinnitus include:

Hearing aids. Many people who have tinnitus also have hearing loss. Hearing aids may help provide relief from tinnitus by making sounds louder and the tinnitus less noticeable. This is done by increasing the volume of the soft environment sounds (such as refrigerator noise, washing machine sounds, lawn mowers outside) while increasing soft speech. Hearing aids not only help with tinnitus, they also improve communication.
Sound generators. These adjustable ear-level devices produce a broadband sound (pleasant shower-like sound) that is delivered directly to the ear. These devices help people pay less attention to their tinnitus by masking it with another sound from the device.
Combination instruments. A hearing aid and sound generator can be housed in a single unit. These units are best for people who need hearing aids and may benefit from the use of additional sounds from the sound generators.
Environmental enrichment devices. A variety of simple-to-use devices can be used to generate background sound in order to decrease the perception of tinnitus. These include tabletop sound machines that can generate different types of sounds (for example, rain, wind and waterfalls), CD/mp3 recordings of music and/or nature/environmental sounds. There are a variety of apps specifically created for tinnitus relief that can be used with smartphones or tablets.
Relaxation techniques. Many people who have tinnitus find that it becomes more bothersome when they are under stress. Learning techniques to increase relaxation and ease stress can help people better deal with the frustrations of tinnitus. This can be achieved through meditation or mindfulness therapy.
Counseling options. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with a psychologist can help people learn ways to limit the attention given to tinnitus and also help them better manage the stress and anxiety caused by the condition.
Other options. Some tinnitus is produced by stress on the jaw and neck muscle or temporomandibular disorder (TMD). A dentist may be of value in helping to control dental issues, such teeth clenching and grinding, which are associated with tinnitus. An examination by a physical therapist may identify problems with the movement of the head, neck and jaw that can contribute to tinnitus. Follow-up physical therapy can help restore the proper movement of the neck and jaw and improve posture, which may reduce the severity of tinnitus.

Prevention

Can tinnitus be prevented?

Certain behaviors can make tinnitus worse and should be avoided whenever possible. These include:

Smoking or using other tobacco products
Drinking alcohol
Exposure to loud noises and sounds

The use of hearing protection devices (earmuffs or earplugs) is advisable in all situations where the exposure to sound is too loud for too long).

Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)

Do you have ringing in your ears?

This is called tinnitus.

How old are you?

3 years or younger

4 to 11 years

12 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Did the symptoms start after a head injury?

Yes

Symptoms began after a head injury

Do you think you may have an ear infection?

Pain and discharge from the ear are the usual symptoms of infection.

Yes

Possible ear infection

Have you had an injury to your ear in the past week?

The ear can be injured by a direct hit, a very loud noise (like a gunshot or firecracker), or an object being pushed into the ear.

Do you have a severe earache?

Is the problem getting worse?

Yes

Tinnitus is getting worse

Do you have any new hearing loss?

Is the ringing in your ears a new symptom?

Are you nauseated or vomiting?

Nauseated means you feel sick to your stomach, like you are going to vomit.

Did it start suddenly?

Yes

Tinnitus began suddenly

Is the ringing only in one ear?

Yes

Tinnitus is in only one ear

Do you think that a medicine may be causing the ringing in your ears?

Think about whether the symptoms started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.

Yes

Medicine may be causing symptoms

Have you had any ear symptoms for more than a week?

Yes

Ear symptoms for more than 1 week

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines and natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus). A few examples are:

ASA, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve).
Some blood pressure and heart medicines.
Some antidepressants.
Some cancer medicines.

Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. It may feel like spinning, whirling, or tilting. Vertigo may make you sick to your stomach, and you may have trouble standing, walking, or keeping your balance.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
- You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
- You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger

Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older

Head Injury, Age 4 and Older

Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)

Do you have ringing in your ears?

This is called tinnitus.

How old are you?

3 years or younger

4 to 11 years

12 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Did the symptoms start after a head injury?

Yes

Symptoms began after a head injury

Do you think you may have an ear infection?

Pain and discharge from the ear are the usual symptoms of infection.

Yes

Possible ear infection

Have you had an injury to your ear in the past week?

The ear can be injured by a direct hit, a very loud noise (like a gunshot or firecracker), or an object being pushed into the ear.

Do you have a severe earache?

Is the problem getting worse?

Yes

Tinnitus is getting worse

Do you have any new hearing loss?

Is the ringing in your ears a new symptom?

Are you nauseated or vomiting?

Nauseated means you feel sick to your stomach, like you are going to vomit.

Did it start suddenly?

Yes

Tinnitus began suddenly

Is the ringing only in one ear?

Yes

Tinnitus is in only one ear

Do you think that a medicine may be causing the ringing in your ears?

Think about whether the symptoms started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.

Yes

Medicine may be causing symptoms

Have you had any ear symptoms for more than a week?

Yes

Ear symptoms for more than 1 week

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus). A few examples are:

Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve).
Some blood pressure and heart medicines.
Some antidepressants.
Some cancer medicines.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
- You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
- You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger

Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older

Head Injury, Age 4 and Older

Why Are My Ears Ringing?

Often described as “ringing in your ears,” tinnitus (pronounced ti-NIGHT-us or TINN-a-tus) is a symptom that encompasses any perception of sound when there’s no real external cause for it.

Chances are, you’ve experienced random, short-lived bursts of tinnitus before, like buzzing in your ears after attending a concert or a strange static noise in your head while sitting in a silent room. Nearly 15% of Americans—more than 50 million people—experience some form of tinnitus, per the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). However, for roughly 20 million people, tinnitus doesn’t just go away, and another 2 million people experience extreme and debilitating symptoms.

As an auditory phenomenon, tinnitus has quite the range. It could sound like crickets chirping, cicadas buzzing, high-pitched squeals, low-pitched hums, or even multiple pitches simultaneously, says Jackie Clark, Ph.D., a board-certified clinical audiologist and clinical associate professor at the School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences at University of Texas at Dallas. You might also hear roaring, whooshing, hissing, whistling, or clicking noises in one ear, both ears, or in the middle of your head.

While tinnitus isn’t a disease in and of itself, it can serve as a sign of numerous underlying health conditions, says Clark. In fact, roughly 200 different disorders can cause confusing or distressing noises in your head, per the ATA. For this reason (and because the symptom can significantly impact your quality of life), it’s important to get your tinnitus checked out if it’s become a persistent problem.

Wishing you had an off-switch for the ringing in your ears? Read on for common causes of tinnitus and what to do about it, with expert insight from audiologists.

1. You’re always surrounded by loud noises.

If you’re noticing a high-pitched buzzing or ringing in your ears, noise exposure may be at the root of your tinnitus, says Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., president of the American Academy of Audiology and the director of Audiology and Hearing Aids at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This is often the case for factory, construction, or road crew workers, veterans and active-duty service members, people in the music industry, and hunters.

There are thousands of hair cells in your inner ear which are arranged by the type of sound they’re responsible for responding to, and those that take in higher pitches (like the flute, for example) are located at the base of your cochlea (the spiral-shaped cavity of your inner ear), explains Palmer. Because of this, all sound energy from the lowest to highest pitches runs past these hair cells—which makes them more likely to become “worn out” over time, she explains. The result: High-pitched buzzing in your ears and hearing loss.

“Unfortunately, for the vast majority of people, there is no pill or procedure that will eliminate the perception of tinnitus and there is currently no treatment that is 100% effective,” says Palmer. That said, you can learn how to cope with the ringing in your ears with help from your doctor, counseling, and sound therapy (which can help distract your brain with other noises to make your tinnitus less noticeable).

krisanapong detraphiphatGetty Images

2. Blame a head or neck injury.

A head or neck injury from a car crash, fall, or accident can become even more distressing when a buzzing in your ears emerges afterwards, says Palmer. In this case, damage to your inner ear, hearing nerve, or the parts of your brain from a concussion could be what’s causing phantom noises in your head.

In particular, service members exposed to bomb blasts can develop tinnitus due to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In fact, tinnitus is one of the most common service-related disabilities veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan come home with, per the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NICDC).

Unfortunately, tinnitus that’s linked to an injury is often louder and more burdensome, with a greater variety of sounds and frequencies, per the ATA. Again, though, coping tools can help make your tinnitus more manageable—so reach out to a doctor for help.

3. Your ears are plugged up.

Blockages like ear wax (or, in very rare cases, a tumor) could cause ringing in your ears due to pressure on the nerves that run through your ear canal. You might also start to experience tinnitus if your ears are so blocked up that you can’t hear outside sounds—which can cue a buzzing sensation in your ears, too, says Clark. The good news: Often, once the source of the pressure is removed and your ears are free to take in other noises again, your tinnitus goes away, says Clark.

4. Or you’re really congested.

Another potential cause of tinnitus is congestion due to a severe cold, the flu, or a sinus infection. Pressure in your middle ear as well as your nasal passages could possibly fire up your nerves, which in turn could trigger a ringing sensation in your ears, explains Clark.

In this situation, the fix is typically straightforward: Reduce the pressure and your tinnitus symptoms should fade with it. If not, call a doctor to have your ears checked.

5. It could be a side effect of your medication.

A number of ototoxic medications can damage your ear structures by disrupting the delicate chemical balance of your inner ear or killing hair cells responsible for hearing, says Palmer. As a result, you might experience tinnitus as a side effect, along with hearing loss (often in both ears), dizziness, and balance issues.

Some common culprits include cisplatin (a type of chemotherapy), aminoglycoside antibiotics (IV drugs for serious infections), and loop diuretics (which are commonly used for patients experiencing heart failure), says Palmer. If you’re worried that your medication could be causing tinnitus, call your doctor or pharmacist to figure out next steps (and don’t make any changes in your medication regimen before you do!).

Stas_VGetty Images

6. Your jaw is acting up.

Got ringing in your ears, pain in your face and jaw, and weird popping sensations when you try to chew or talk? Damage to muscles, ligaments, or cartilage in your temporomandibular joint (a.k.a. TMJ) where your lower jaw connects to your skull in front of your ears can trigger tinnitus.

Jaw issues probably aren’t top of mind when you start hearing odd noises, but the nerves in your face responsible for biting and chewing are actually connected to structures in your ears. As such, a trip to an audiologist for tinnitus might end in a referral to a dentist or a head and neck specialist, says Clark. In many cases, getting your TMJ under control will help get rid of the ringing in your ears, per the ATA.

7. Your blood sugar levels are out of control.

When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or use it properly in order to transfer glucose (blood sugar) into cells where it can be used for fuel. This puts you at risk of developing tinnitus and hearing loss alike because your inner ear relies on a steady supply of oxygen and glucose—which is disturbed by your condition, explains Clark. In this sense, tinnitus sort of serves as your body’s alarm system, letting you know that it’s not processing the glucose it needs to function, she says.

For diabetes-related tinnitus, it’s important to treat the cause as well as the symptom, so talk to your doctor about how you can better cope with both.

8. It’s simply a sign of aging.

Often, the same family member who needs the TV volume extra-loud is also dealing with frustrating noises in their ears. Unfortunately, tinnitus is one of the many wonders that comes along with old age, and it may strike as early as your 40s, along with age-related hearing loss, says Clark.

In many cases, worsening, high-pitched tinnitus and hearing loss are linked to damage from noise exposure over time and can hit suddenly or worsen gradually, per a 2016 study in Noise & Health. Again, treatment involves learning how to deal with tinnitus, not “cure” it, so talk to a doctor about what could help ease your symptoms. Sometimes, hearing aids can help improve your hearing and distract you from the buzzing in your ears.

9. You could have an inner ear disorder.

On its own, hearing a low-pitched roaring or whooshing sound in one ear can be distressing. Add to that random episodes of dizziness and vertigo and a feeling of fullness in your ear (like it’s brimming with water), and you have every right to be concerned about what’s going on. In this case, you could have Ménière’s disease, a disorder characterized by hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizzy spells, says Palmer.

Ménière’s disease is believed to be caused by a fluid imbalance in your inner ear. While it is a chronic condition, dietary changes (like eating less salt and dialing down your caffeine and alcohol intake), medications, hearing aids, and other therapies can help you manage your symptoms.

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Causes | American Tinnitus Association

Tinnitus is not a disease in and of itself, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. In most cases, tinnitus is a sensorineural reaction in the brain to damage in the ear and auditory system. While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, there are roughly 200 different health disorders that can generate tinnitus as a symptom. Below is a list of some of the most commonly reported catalysts for tinnitus.

Please note: Tinnitus, by itself, does not necessarily indicate any one of the items listed below. Patients experiencing tinnitus should see their physician or a hearing health professional for a full examination to diagnose the underlying cause of symptoms. In some cases, resolving the root cause will alleviate the perception of tinnitus.

Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is a commonly accompanied by tinnitus. Some researchers believe that subjective tinnitus cannot exist without some prior damage to the auditory system. The underlying hearing loss can be the result of:

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) – Hearing often deteriorates as people get older, typically starting around the age of 60. This form of hearing loss tends to be bilateral (in both ears) and involve the sensory loss of high-frequency sounds. Age-related hearing loss explains, in part, why tinnitus is so prevalent among seniors.
Noise-induced hearing loss – Exposure to loud noises, either in a single traumatic experience or over time, can damage the auditory system and result in hearing loss and sometimes tinnitus as well. Traumatic noise exposure can happen at work (e.g. loud machinery), at play (e.g. loud sporting events, concerts, recreational activities), and/or by accident (e.g. a backfiring engine.) Noise induced hearing loss is sometimes unilateral (one ear only) and typically causes patients to lose hearing around the frequency of the triggering sound trauma.

It is important to note that existing hearing loss is sometimes not directly observable by the patient, who may not perceive any lost frequencies. But this this does not mean that hearing damage has not been done. A trained audiologist or other hearing health professional can perform sensitive audiometric tests to precisely measure the true extent of hearing loss.

The exact biological process by which hearing loss is associated with tinnitus is still being investigated by researchers. However, we do know that the loss of certain sound frequencies leads to specific changes in how the brain processes sound. In short, as the brain receives less external stimuli around a specific frequency, it begins to adapt and change. Tinnitus may be the brain’s way of filling in the missing sound frequencies it no longer receives from the auditory system.

Obstructions in the Middle Ear

Blockages in the ear canal can cause pressure to build up in the inner ear, affecting the operation of the ear drum. Moreover, objects directly touching the ear drum can irritate the organ and cause the perception of tinnitus symptoms. Common obstructions include:

Excessive ear wax (ceruminosis)
Head congestion
Loose hair from the ear canal
Dirt or foreign objects

In many cases, the removal of the blockage will alleviate tinnitus symptoms. However, in some situations, the blockage may have caused permanent damage that leads to chronic tinnitus.

Head and Neck Trauma

Severe injury to the head or neck can cause nerve, blood flow, and muscle issues that result in the perception of tinnitus. Patients who ascribe their condition to head and neck trauma often report higher tinnitus volume and perceived burden, as well as greater variability in both sound, frequency, and location of their tinnitus.

Tinnitus related to head, neck, or dental issues is sometimes referred to as somatic tinnitus. (“Somatic” derives from the Greek somatikos, meaning “of the body.”)

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Another example of somatic tinnitus is that caused by temporomandibular joint disorder. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the lower jaw connects to the skull, and is located in front of the ears. Damage to the muscles, ligaments, or cartilage in the TMJ can lead to tinnitus symptoms. The TMJ is adjacent to the auditory system and shares some ligaments and nerve connections with structures in the middle ear.

Tinnitus patients with a TMJ disorder will experience pain in the face and/or jaw, limited ability to move the jaw, and regular popping sounds while chewing or talking. A dentist, craniofacial surgeon, or other oral health professional can appropriately diagnose and often fix TMJ issues. In many scenarios, fixing the TMJ disorder will alleviate tinnitus symptoms.

Sinus Pressure and Barometric Trauma

Nasal congestion from a severe cold, flu, or sinus infection can create abnormal pressure in the middle ear, impacting normal hearing and causing tinnitus symptoms.

Acute barotrauma, caused by extreme or rapid changes in air or water pressure, can also damage the middle and inner ear. Potential sources of barotrauma include:

Diving / Snorkeling / Scuba
Flying (only during extreme, abnormal elevation changes; normal commercial air travel is generally safe)
Concussive explosive blasts

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury, caused by concussive shock, can damage the brain’s auditory processing areas and generate tinnitus symptoms. TBI is one of the major catalysts for tinnitus in military and veteran populations. Nearly 60% of all tinnitus cases diagnosed by the U.S. Veterans Administration are attributable to mild-to-severe traumatic brain injuries.

Ototoxic Drugs

Tinnitus is a potential side-effect of many prescription medications. However, in most cases and for most drugs, tinnitus is an acute, short-lived side-effect; if the patient stops taking the medication, the tinnitus symptoms typically receed. However, there are some ototoxic drugs known to cause more permanent tinnitus symptoms. These include:

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Certain antibiotics
Certain cancer medications
Water pills and diuretics
Quinine-based medications

If you are worried about tinnitus as a side effect of your medications, please consult your subscribing physician or pharmacist. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting with your healthcare provider. The risks of stopping a medication may far exceed any potential benefit.

Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

Tinnitus is a reported symptom of the following medical conditions:
Metabolic Disorders: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Anemia
Autoimmune Disorders: Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia
Blood Vessel Disorders: High Blood Pressure, Atherosclerosis
Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Anxiety, Stress
Vestibular Disorders: Ménière’s Disease,Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Otosclerosis
Tumor-Related Disorders (very rare): Acoustic Neuroma, Vestibular Schwannoma, other tumorous growths

Again, a person experiencing tinnitus should not assume that he/she has one of the medical conditions listed above. Only a trained healthcare provider can appropriately diagnose the underlying cause of tinnitus.

Tinnitus | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Tinnitus is a condition where a child hears a buzzing or ringing that is coming from inside his ear. The noise can be either continuous or sporadic, in one or both ears, and high or low pitch. For some children, the noise can be a roaring, humming, hissing, or clicking sound instead of the typical ringing.

Children with tinnitus may have damage to the inner ear that causes the brain’s sound-processing system to malfunction, causing the ringing or buzzing sound of tinnitus.

Most children with tinnitus have normal hearing, but the most severe cases can cause hearing impairments.

Tinnitus is about as common in children as it is in adults. About one-third of children suffer from it at some point, but the condition often goes unnoticed. In many cases, the child is too young to describe what they’re hearing, has come to think of it as normal, or is not troubled by the experience enough to mention it.

In one in 12 children with tinnitus, the condition causes enough distress that it interferes with sleep and concentration in school. In severe cases, kids can become extremely stressed or depressed.

The brain’s sound-processing system produces the noises associated with tinnitus. It does so in response to various causes, including damage to the inner ear and hearing impairments. The causes of tinnitus include:

Cumulative noise exposure from listening to loud music on earphones or ear buds
Wax build-up in the ear canal
Ear or sinus infections
Misaligned jaw joints
Neck or head trauma, such as a concussion
Second-hand smoke exposure
Chemotherapy, certain antibiotics, aspirin or other medications that can damage the inner ear
Ear injuries, such as from poking an object too far into the ear
Acquired hearing loss
Congenital hearing loss
Abnormal growth of the middle ear bones
Slow-growing tumors on auditory, vestibular or facial nerves
Ménière’s disease

Depending on your child’s age and ability to express himself, as well as the severity of his tinnitus, symptoms may vary. Common symptoms of tinnitus in children include:

Reports of ringing, buzzing, clicking, whistling, humming, hissing, or roaring sound
Sensitivity to noise
Poor attention and restlessness in a very young child
Tantrums, irritability, and your child holding his head or ears
Severe fatigue
Anxiety or depression

If your child doesn’t have a middle ear infection, often signaled by discharge from the ear or pain following a cold, then the primary care provider will likely refer your child to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist), to have his tinnitus evaluated. The specialist may conduct various tests including:

Physical exam and thorough medical history
Questions regarding your child’s behavior and symptoms
Hearing tests, including otologic and audiologic exams
Lab (blood) tests
CT scan or MRI

There is no specific treatment to cure tinnitus. Fortunately, most children outgrow tinnitus.

In cases where the tinnitus is caused by an underlying condition, your child’s otolaryngologist will address that problem.

If medication caused the tinnitus, the specialist will recommend a change or discontinuation of medication. In most medication-induced cases, the tinnitus resolves over time.
If noise exposure caused the tinnitus, your child’s primary care provider will recommend stopping the use of earphones to listen to music and encourage wearing ear plugs at concerts. In these cases, the tinnitus generally goes away once the inner ear has had time to heal.
When the tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, hearing aids can greatly improve symptoms. Hearing more environmental sounds helps to filter out the tinnitus and make it less noticeable.

Whatever the cause of your child’s tinnitus—and especially when the cause isn’t clear-cut — the goal is management of the condition through various therapies. These therapies can help to relieve stress and fatigue, which have been known to exacerbate tinnitus, and to retrain the brain’s response. Some therapies a specialist might recommend for a child include:

Proper and explanation of his condition. Putting a name to his condition helps to reassure your child that he’ll likely outgrow it and that other kids experience the same thing. Having this understanding will greatly reduce his stress.
Healthy eating, exercise, and a regular sleep schedule. Improving your child’s general well-being can help to decrease stress and fatigue known to aggravate tinnitus. It will also improve his mood, making him better able to cope.
Education about the use of sound therapy, or a sound machine to provide background noise. Using a fan or white-noise machine can blend with the sound of the tinnitus and make it less noticeable. It helps your child to feel in control of his condition, helps his nervous system adapt to the tinnitus, and improves your child’s ability to concentrate. A sound machine can be especially helpful at night, when many tinnitus sufferers have trouble falling asleep because quiet heightens the tinnitus noises. Some children find soft background music to be more helpful than a white-noise machine.
Special hearing aids programmed to filter out tinnitus. Even if your child doesn’t have hearing loss, special hearing aids can be used to amplify environmental sounds and to turn down the tinnitus noises; your child’s brain will then focus on the environmental sounds instead of the tinnitus.

Most children outgrow tinnitus, even without therapy. Children who use stress management techniques, sound therapy, and hearing aids when appropriate report a great improvement in their symptoms. A specialist’s care can help to produce the most successful outcomes, especially in lessening the day-to-day impact of tinnitus.

Your child’s primary care provider will recommend the individualized therapy regimen that’s right for your child. If your child has an underlying medical problem causing tinnitus, the specific treatment will be initiated.

Tinnitus is a distressing and often complicated condition that requires accurate diagnosis and appropriate care to improve and eliminate symptoms. It’s crucial to find the specialist who will explore all the options for management of tinnitus, treatment of its underlying cause, and support for your child as they cope this their condition. At CHOP, the otolaryngology team is expertly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus and will work with your child, family and other sub-specialists at CHOP as needed to ensure the condition and your child’s quality of life is improved as soon as possible.

Tinnitus Could Be Symptom of a More Serious Condition

Many patients suffer through ringing or buzzing noises day in and day out. Some are even aware that tinnitus is treatable, but are putting off seeing a doctor because while the condition is annoying, it isn’t serious.

They’re wrong. Unfortunately, trying to live with the irritation of tinnitus could actually be hazardous to your health.

The majority of cases of tinnitus are caused by degeneration or changes in the ear canal, and do not result from acute medical problems. However, patients with any of the following symptoms should see a doctor about their tinnitus:

Sudden onset. If your tinnitus showed up suddenly or you noticed it after an illness or injury, your doctor may recommend a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to rule out brain injury.
One-sided. Tinnitus that is only heard on one side is common in patients with hearing loss, but can also be caused by a tumor or fluid buildup in the ear canal. Sudden tinnitus or hearing loss on one side may be reversible with medication or other medical intervention.
Pulsatile. Tinnitus that is heard in rhythm with your heartbeat (pulsatile) can be the result of high blood pressure, diabetes, or even an aneurysm.
Personality changes. If you experience tinnitus along with changes in your mood or behavior, speaking issue, or difficulty walking, you should seek emergency treatment to rule out the possibility of a stroke.

We Can Discover the Cause and Treatment for Your Tinnitus

Patients who hear a persistent buzzing or ringing in the ears should undergo a complete hearing test (called an audiogram) to determine the cause and extent of the condition. In many cases, tinnitus can be successfully treated with hearing aids and sound masking devices, helping patients to sleep better and concentrate during waking hours. To make an appointment for a hearing test today, call our toll-free number— (410) 202-8517 —to visit the Sound Advice Hearing Aid Center nearest you.

90,000 Meniere’s disease – symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Meniere’s disease is a disease of the inner ear that is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Meniere’s syndrome usually affects only one ear. It can develop at any age, but it is more common in adults between the ages of 40 and 60.

Dizziness attacks may occur suddenly or after a short period of tinnitus or hearing impairment. Dizziness attacks do not occur frequently in some people.Others may feel dizzy several times during the day. The dizziness associated with illness can be so severe that it can lead to loss of balance and falls. These symptoms are called “drop attacks”.

Causes of Symptoms

Symptoms of Meniere’s disease are caused by the accumulation of fluid in the inner ear called the labyrinth.

The labyrinth contains the organs of balance (semicircular canals and otolith organs) and hearing (cochlea). It consists of two parts: the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth.The membranous labyrinth is filled with a fluid called endolymph, which, in the organs of balance, stimulates receptors as the body moves. The receptors then send signals to the brain about the position and movement of the body. In the snail, fluid contracts in response to sound vibrations that stimulate sensory cells that send signals to the brain.

In Meniere’s disease, the accumulation of endolymph in the labyrinth causes imbalances and disrupts the transmission of auditory signals between the inner ear and the brain. This abnormality causes dizziness and other symptoms of Meniere’s disease.

Why do people get sick with Meniere’s disease

Currently, the causes that provoke Meniere’s disease are not fully understood. Some researchers believe that Meniere’s disease is the result of narrowing of blood vessels, similar to those that cause migraines. Others believe that Meniere’s disease may be due to viral infections, allergies, or autoimmune reactions. Because Meniere’s disease appears to be inherited, it can also result from genetic changes that cause abnormalities in the volume or regulation of endolymphatic fluid.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Meniere’s disease is based on history and physical examination. The doctor may refer the patient to several types of examinations to confirm the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease.

Diagnostic tests

Tonal audiometry
Brain stem auditory response (ABR test)
Computed tomography (computed tomography)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Ménière’s syndrome is often associated with low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in the affected ear, so tonal audiometry is usually performed to assess hearing thresholds at different frequencies, especially responses in the low-frequency regions.Other tests, such as the auditory response of the brainstem (ABR test), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be needed to rule out other causes, such as swelling or pressure on the vestibular cochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII).

Treatment

There is no cure for Meniere’s disease yet. But to reduce the symptoms, you can take the following actions:

Reduce or quit smoking altogether
Reduce consumption of tea, coffee, spicy foods.

Another common diet is a low salt diet, as high salt concentrations cause the body to retain excess fluid and cause fluid pressure fluctuations in the inner ear. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe diuretics to lower salt levels.

Patients with dizziness and / or dizziness may take oral medication for vertigo.
In severe cases, surgery may be done to remove excess endolymphatic fluid from the inner ear or from the incision of the balancing nerve.

However, such surgery may put patients at risk of hearing loss or facial nerve palsy. Therefore, surgery is a last resort and requires a thorough preoperative examination.

Fominov Dmitry Vitoldovich

Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist of the first category. Receptions for adults and children. Work experience: since 2013

Receptions for adults and children:

Minsk, st. Nemiga, 42 Center for Good Hearing

Otosclerosis and hearing loss: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

What is otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is a pathology in the development of an organ of hearing caused by the growth of bone tissue in the inner and middle ear.An excess of this bone tissue makes the auditory ossicles immobile (normally, the bones are mobile), thereby disrupting the entire process of sound conduction.

Otosclerosis and hearing loss

Sound waves pass through the external auditory canal and hit the eardrum, which begins to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted through the ossicular system to the inner ear, where sound is converted into electrical impulses. The ossicular system (malleus, incus and stapes) further amplifies sound in a leverage manner.With otosclerosis, the smallest auditory ossicle, the stapes, loses its mobility due to the excess bone tissue formed in the middle ear.

If the auditory bone is normally mobile and this facilitates the passage of sound waves through the middle ear, then when the stapes are immobile, the process of sound conduction is disturbed and conductive hearing loss occurs (tympanic form of otosclerosis).

Disorders in the cochlea (cochlear form of otosclerosis) may also occur, and in this case, sensorineural hearing loss develops.

In some cases, the sclerotic process can occur in the middle and inner ear. In such cases, mixed hearing loss develops.
At the very beginning of the course of the disease, when the ear is just beginning to lose the ability to transmit sounds, it may be more difficult for a person to hear low-frequency sounds, which means low-frequency hearing loss.
Otosclerosis is often accompanied by a noise or ringing in the ears (or in the head) – the so-called tinnitus.

Who can get otosclerosis

Most often, the disease affects the auditory organ in women aged 40-45 years, but it can occur at a younger age of 20 years.
The causes of this disease have not yet been precisely established.
However, otosclerosis can be caused by viral infections (eg measles), hormonal or immune changes in the body. But the main cause of the disease is considered to be a genetic factor. Most of the genes involved are transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner.

Can otosclerosis be prevented

Unfortunately, there are no preventable risk factors such as loud noise or smoking that can be eliminated to reduce the likelihood of developing otosclerosis.

Risk factors

The following risk factors for otosclerosis are known today:

Heredity

If there is a family history of otosclerosis, then the risk of its development is very high.

Sex and age

Otosclerosis is the most common cause of hearing loss in middle-aged people.

Symptoms of otosclerosis

Common symptoms of otosclerosis include:

Progressive bilateral hearing loss;
Improving hearing in noisy or vibrating environments;
Persistent tinnitus;
Dizziness (possible in 40% of patients).

Photo 1. Examination of the outer and middle ear using an otoscope.

Otosclerosis and audiogram

Hearing diagnostics using audiogram helps to detect the disease. In addition to audiometry, the following research methods can detect otosclerosis:

Examination of the ear using a light video otoscope;
Research with tuning forks;
Tonal and speech audiometry;
Acoustic impedance measurement;
MRI.

Treatment of otosclerosis

Currently there is no effective drug for otosclerosis.If you have been diagnosed with otosclerosis, the treatment regimen may depend on the stage of the disease and the accompanying type of hearing loss.

There are two methods of treatment: surgery and hearing aids.

At the initial stage of otosclerosis, the wearing of hearing aids is indicated, which correct hearing. It is important to understand that due to the progressive nature of the disease, wearing hearing aids is palliative. helps to reduce the main symptom of hearing loss, but does not treat the underlying condition of otosclerosis.Therefore, hearing aids can often precede subsequent surgery.
Surgical treatment of otosclerosis is stapedoplasty . During the operation, the immobile auditory bone is removed and replaced with a prosthesis. This allows sound waves to enter the inner ear.
In most cases, this surgery helps to restore hearing. However, in some cases, complications can occur, leading to profound hearing loss or other side effects.Therefore, it is important to get as much information as possible at the consultation of a hearing specialist about the risks and limitations of the operation.

If you have noticed one of the symptoms:

– hearing impairment;
– dizziness;
– tinnitus.

Do not delay solving the problem, because the above symptoms negatively affect the development of the auditory centers and contribute to the extinction of cognitive functions.

Consult an audiologist for diagnosis.If your doctor detects otosclerosis, they will suggest an action plan to help reduce your symptoms and improve your condition.

Matveev Konstantin Nikolaevich

Audiologist, hearing specialist of the first category. Receptions for adults and children. Work experience: since 2007

Receptions for adults and children:

Minsk, st. Nemiga, 42 Vitebsk, st. Kosmonavtov, 13 Center for Good Hearing

Ringing or tinnitus, tinnitus – causes, examination and treatment | Symptoms

Acoustic trauma (noise-induced hearing impairment)
Exposure to noise is related to professional activities or hobbiesLoss of hearing.

Age-related changes (presbycusis)
Progressive hearing loss, often seen in other family members

Barotrauma (damage to the ear due to sudden changes in pressure)
Previous obvious ear injuries

Brain tumors (eg, acoustic neuroma or meningioma) or diseases such as multiple sclerosis or stroke
Tinnitus, often hearing loss in only one ear.Sometimes other neurological disorders.

Medicines (especially aspirin, antibiotics-aminoglycosides, some diuretics)
Tinnitus occurs in both ears immediately after starting the drug.
Hearing loss is also possible (with the exception of aspirin). Dizziness and loss of balance may occur with aminoglycosides.

Eustachian tube dysfunction
Often, a gradual deterioration in hearing over a long time, as well as frequent colds.With a sharp change in pressure during an air flight or other activities, the feeling of congestion does not disappear. May be in one or both ears (often stronger in one ear than the other).

Infections (eg, otitis media, labyrinthitis, meningitis)
Previous cases of this infection

Meniere’s disease
Recurrent attacks of hearing loss, tinnitus and / or a feeling of stuffiness in one ear, severe systemic dizziness.

Blockage of the ear canal (cerumen, foreign body or otitis externa)
Only one ear is affected.Visible pathologies during examination, including discharge with otitis externa.

Malformations of arteries and veins (arteriovenous) of the dura mater
Constant pulsating tinnitus in only one ear. Other symptoms are usually absent.

Spasm of the palate or middle ear muscles
Irregular clicks or mechanical noises. Other neurologic symptoms are possible (when the spasm is caused by a neurologic disorder, such as multiple sclerosis).When symptoms occur, palate and / or eardrum movement may be observed.

Turbulent blood flow in the carotid artery or jugular vein
During the examination, there may be a humming or pulsating noise around the neck.
The murmur may stop when the doctor presses on the jugular vein and / or when the head is turned to the side.

Vascular tumors of the middle ear (e.g. glomus tumors)
Constant pulsating tinnitus in only one ear.During the exam, there may be a humming or pulsating noise around the affected ear.

Interviewing and collecting anamnesis

First, the doctor asks the patient with tinnitus about their symptoms (appears in only one ear or in both ears, is persistent or pulsating).
Clarifies whether the patient has experienced neurologic symptoms, has been exposed to loud noise, or has taken medication that may have been damaging to the ears.Asks about past illnesses.
He then examines the ears and also checks the hearing and the nervous system.

The data obtained from the history and examination may indicate the cause of the tinnitus and the examination that may be required.

Survey

Otoscopy (examines the ear canal for secretions, foreign bodies and earwax; examines the eardrum for signs of acute infection, chronic infection, tumor.
Audiometry (in order to establish the presence, degree and type of hearing loss).

When examining the function of cranial nerves (dizziness and spatial disorientation), peripheral sensitivity and the severity of reflexes are assessed. Carotid arteries and jugular veins are auscultated.

Tactics of additional examination depends on the clinical picture of a particular patient

Tympanometry
Vestibular tests
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Computed tomography (CT)
Angiogram
Examination of the cardiovascular system (carotid arteries, vertebral and intracranial vessels)
Consultation with a neurologist

Treatment

Treating the underlying condition can reduce the appearance of tinnitus.So, hearing correction (using a hearing aid) leads to the disappearance of tinnitus in 50% of patients.

Because stress and other mental factors (such as depression) can exacerbate symptoms, efforts to identify and reduce these factors can be beneficial. Some biostimulants, such as caffeine, can worsen the course of the disease and therefore need to be eliminated from the diet.

There is no specific drug or surgical therapy.

In the age group over 65, one patient in four is diagnosed with significant hearing impairment. As a concomitant disease in the presence of sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus is much more common in older patients.

Diagnostics and treatment of tinnitus in Moscow, price

Tinnitus – auditory sensations that appear in the absence of sound vibrations of the environment.

The following types of noise are distinguished:

physiological – occurs in a healthy person with absolute silence
pathological – objective and subjective.The difference between objective and subjective noise is that the objective noise is heard not only by the patient, but also by those around him.

Causes and pathogenesis of tinnitus

Tinnitus can develop as a result of damage to the inner ear (consequences of acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections), atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels, hypertension, taking ototoxic drugs, due to exposure to loud sounds, with pathology of the auditory nerve. Tinnitus can be a symptom of a disease of the middle (acute otitis media, otosclerosis, tympanic membrane injury) and external (sulfur plug, foreign body) ear.Also, noise can appear with various vascular developmental anomalies; with psychoemotional stress, significantly worsening its course, causing sleep disturbances, insomnia.

Pathological noise occurs when listening to the sounds of your body when the nerve cells of the auditory analyzer are irritated, sound conduction is disturbed, etc. The cause of pathological impulses can be a change in spontaneous bioelectric activity in the nervous tissue.

Symptoms of noise in the ears

Tinnitus may be pulsating or buzzing, high or low, etc.e. Depending on the cause of the noise, patients complain of headache, dizziness, painful sensations and discomfort inside the ear, nausea, pathological discharge from the ears, deterioration of health.

Diagnosis of tinnitus at the Clinical Hospital on Yauza

Specialists of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza carry out a differentiated diagnosis of tinnitus using audiometry. This method involves the determination of hearing acuity, auditory sensitivity to various sound waves using a special audiometer device.For example, a clicking sound may indicate a neuromuscular disease; in case of vascular pathology, the patient complains of buzzing or pulsating tinnitus.

In addition, the otolaryngologist can prescribe laboratory tests, as well as refer related specialists to consultations – a cardiologist, therapist, neurologist, psychotherapist.

Treatment of tinnitus at the Clinical Hospital on Yauza

Treatment of tinnitus is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease. We use drug therapy, the purpose of which is to improve blood supply and metabolic processes.It is also possible to conduct electrical stimulation, reflexology, magnetotherapy, etc. In some cases, surgical treatment is indicated, the type of which is determined by the specialist in accordance with the causes of the noise.

You can look at the prices for services in the price list or check the phone number indicated on the website.

90,000 Tinnitus (tinnutus), symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Tinnitus or subjective ear noise (tinnitus, ringing in the ears) is one of the most difficult to solve problems faced by otorhinolaryngologists, audiologists, otorhinolaryngologists, and neurologists.This is not an independent disease, but only a symptom. Tinnitus is understood as the auditory sensations that arise in a person in the absence of an external sound source. Most patients have a decrease in auditory function, but they describe their sensations differently – from a quiet whistle, ringing, noise to very loud and intrusive; melodies; buzzing, hissing, clicking, tingling. Tinnitus can be felt in one ear or both. Some patients, due to loud noise or ringing, lose concentration and are unable to perform their work duties and drive a car.

The causes of ringing in the ears or head are:

Injury to the head or ear with damage to the inner ear.
Structural change in the auditory ossicles of the middle ear due to a decrease in their mobility.
Cardiovascular diseases accompanied by pulsating tinnitus.
Atherosclerosis, in which, as a result of the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of the arteries, the vessels lose their elasticity, the blood flow is disturbed, it becomes turbulent, with each pulsation of the vessels, the patient feels tinnitus, his blood pressure rises, against which hypertension develops.
Turbulent blood flow in the vessels that occurs due to narrowing of the carotid arteries.
Capillary pathology (connections between arteries and veins).
Tumors of the head and neck.
Long-term medication (some types of antibiotics, high doses of aspirin).

Tinnitus problems at the Federal State Budgetary Institution NCC otolaryngology FMBA of Russia are dealt with in the scientific and clinical department of vestibulology and otoneurology. With the help of the latest techniques, specialists successfully work in assessing subjective ear noise, using otoacoustic emission (OAE) and impedance measurements in the acoustic reflex decay mode with a deliberately low stimulus.With the help of psychoacoustic noise metering, using an audiometer, the height and “loudness” (intensity) of subjective ear noise is assessed. In addition, in our Center, it is mandatory for all patients with tinnitus to undergo a classical audiological examination: audiometry and ETF-test, which allows detecting dysfunction of the auditory / Eustachian tubes (tubular dysfunction). Various tinnitus questionnaires are used to objectively assess the severity of subjective tinnitus.

When prescribing individual drug and non-drug treatment in our Center, the timing of the onset of the disease, the causative factor, the peculiarities of the dysfunction of the inner and middle ear, the negative experience of previous treatment, as well as the data of psychological testing, are taken into account – this allows you to achieve the desired positive result.

90,000 Treatment of tinnitus in osteochondrosis and arterial hypertension

What to do if tinnitus and ear pain

Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Tinnitus occurs in the absence of external sound stimuli and can be unilateral and bilateral. Why does pulsating tinnitus appear? It can be caused by the perception of the movement of blood in the vessels of the inner ear and felt in conditions of complete silence.The condition is considered physiological. Pathological tinnitus is a symptom of a medical condition. Tinnitus is constantly felt by about 8% of the adult population.

Causes of severe tinnitus

Tinnitus varies in nature and intensity, may be constant or intermittent. Patients describe tinnitus as a high-pitched continuous sound, turbine noise, ringing, hum, hiss, hiss, clicks, and so on.

Causes of severe tinnitus:

diseases of the middle and inner ear;
damage to the vestibulocochlear nerve, which is responsible for the transmission of sound from the ear to the brain;
multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases causing muscle spasms;
Meniere’s disease;
otosclerosis;
acoustic trauma, barotrauma;

90,031 Noise and ringing in the ears in older adults is associated with the natural aging process and hearing loss;

osteochondrosis;
arterial hypertension;

90,031 diseases of the thyroid gland;

neurocirculatory dystonia;
cerebral atherosclerosis;
brain tumors;
intoxication;

90,031 stress.

Nervous strain caused by tinnitus causes insomnia, irritability, depression. Several studies support a link between anxiety and impaired concentration with tinnitus. Tinnitus, even in balanced people, can cause nervous system disorders. Emotionally labile patients constantly focus on the problem, which increases the discomfort. Therefore, the treatment of tinnitus is an important medical and social task. How to get rid of congestion and tinnitus depends on the underlying cause.

Tinnitus treatment

Alas, there is still no medicine that can eliminate tinnitus once and for all. When choosing a treatment regimen, the cause of the disease (if established), the degree of hearing impairment, previous therapy, and concomitant pathologies are taken into account.

Treatment of tinnitus is reduced to the treatment of the underlying disease. Unfortunately, the cause of tinnitus is often not found. What if there is noise and pain in the ears, and the diagnosis has not been established? With an unclear etiology of tinnitus, the following are indicated: drug therapy (betaserc, tanakan), reflexology, hearing aids, psychotherapeutic sessions, audiomaskers.There is evidence of the effectiveness of the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of tinnitus. The result of this treatment is a noticeable reduction in discomfort and an improvement in the patient’s mood.

It is important to know that when a diagnosis of cochlear neuritis is made, the success of treatment depends on the timing of its initiation. Therefore, if you experience tinnitus, you should immediately consult a doctor. Timely therapy is a guarantee of restoration of hearing and the disappearance of intrusive tinnitus.

How to treat persistent tinnitus in cervical osteochondrosis? Of course, the underlying disease must be treated. Taking medications prescribed by a doctor, a course of physiotherapy, massage, therapeutic exercises will help improve the condition and get rid of tinnitus.

Hypertension and tinnitus

Dizziness and subjective tinnitus are often early symptoms of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Patients are more likely to experience noise at night when the environment is quiet.It has been noted that hearing loss develops simultaneously or shortly after the onset of tinnitus.

Pressure medications for tinnitus and dizziness should be taken continuously. In general, the treatment of high blood pressure is not a one-time pill intake on the principle of “when the pressure has jumped.” If a diagnosis of “arterial hypertension” is made, then drugs “for pressure” must be taken daily until the end of life. Read more about the treatment of arterial hypertension on our website Dobrobut.com.

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causes, methods of treatment, consequences Useful information Academy of Hearing

17.09.2019

The purpose of this research article is to talk about tinnitus, explain how this phenomenon occurs and what options are available to reduce it.

The phenomenon of tinnitus

Tinnitus is a widespread phenomenon and one of the most common diagnoses in the practice of treating ENT diseases.In 1999, in Germany, on behalf of the German League of Physicians in the field of auditory acoustics, a large study was carried out, during which it was found that tinnitus leads to psychosomatic disorders such as sleep disturbance, depression and increased audiological stress. Men suffer from tinnitus more often than women, which is mainly associated with employment in “noisy” professions.

The average age of the disease is from 40 to 60 years. Patients complain of noises, chirping or rattling in the ears.Ear noises are often associated with hearing impairment (90% of cases). Therefore, it is recommended to use hearing aids that help suppress tinnitus. (fig. 1)

An interesting fact is that in many patients the subjective perception of the noise level is significantly higher than the audiological comparative measurements show. In the framework of various studies, it was established using audiometric correction of the noise frequency and noise level that the scale of the noise strength is no more than 15 dB above the auditory wave (Fig.2).

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Online hearing test allows you to quickly and easily determine your hearing condition. In just 3 minutes you can determine its severity. The result of the hearing test is called an “audiogram” and is an indication for a doctor’s prescription.

We suggest taking the following hearing tests: signs of hearing loss; frequency online hearing test; hearing test in noise; speech recognition; modeling of signs of hearing loss.

Causes of tinnitus

Key research findings interpret tinnitus as impaired hearing processing. Tinnitus can be caused in many places in our peripheral and central hearing processing systems. Often these are changes in the inner ear, due to which tinnitus occurs as a neurophysiological reaction, and symptoms of altered hearing perception. (fig. 3).

If we are talking about temporary (reversible) damage in some part of the auditory pathway, then the effect of tinnitus often disappears after a noise pause.If hearing loss persists, tinnitus often persists.

There are various molecular biological models for tinnitus. One form is tinnitus transduction (left lesion). These are thin filaments (connections) that mechanically connect stereotypes to each other and open or close transduction channels at the pinnacle of stereotypes. Damage to the left, such as from noise, leads to permanently open transductive channels.Constant polarization sets in, and the intracellular calcium concentration increases. The consequence of this is prolonged constant concentration with a decrease in the cochlear function of the amplifier and deformation of the organ of Corti, which can play a role in the occurrence of hearing impairment (eg hyperacusis) and tinnitus.

Changes in the auditory input due to hearing loss lead to hyperactivity in the auditory pathway and to a neural correlate of tinnitus.Altered spontaneous activity irritates the auditory system, and tinnitus is perceived on the auditory cortex as an abnormal picture, as a result of the processes of reorganization of the central auditory system. These processes are possibly facilitated by the increased number of participating neurons, which exponentially grow from the organ of hearing (3,500) to the auditory plug (100,000) and synchronize and amplify the effect.

So, tinnitus arises as a phenomenon of perception, always in the auditory plug.This knowledge is very important for therapeutic applications, since all auditory psychosomatic centers are connected in the brain. The perception of tinnitus is controlled via the central nervous system and emotionally assessed via the limbic system. From this comes the individual load on the tinnitus in the patient.

McKenna’s model describes the relationship between tinnitus, its severity, and the patient’s physical and emotional response (Fig. 4-7).

There are three important points from this model for tinnitus:

reduction of negative thoughts;

90,031 reduction in the response of the autonomic nervous system;

changes in the conscious perception of tinnitus.

Classification and its significance for acoustic provision of hearing

The concept of tinnitus is a figurative expression, it says nothing about the cause of the disease, its treatment and consequences. The word Tinnitus comes from the Latin word “tinnire”, which means “to sound.” Having tinnitus means hearing noise without an external sound source. In tinnitus diagnostics, it is first determined whether it is objective or materialized tinnitus, and thus the method of treatment is determined.The incidence of objective tinnitus is very rare (0.01%).

Subjective tinnitus is the most frequently occurring form. In this case, it is impossible to establish the place where the tinnitus occurs. Typically, the decisive factor for therapy is how well the patient can manage his tinnitus, as well as how much he suffers from it.

The treatment concept chosen has traditionally been influenced by the condition of the tinnitus. Thus, it is determined whether it is a tinnitus without hearing loss or hearing loss.With existing hearing loss, it is very important to understand whether it is possible to compensate for this loss. Hearing loss is often mild to moderate. If the auditory perception is completely normal, then tinnitus can be considered as a consequence of general irritation, as an incorrect processing in the auditory tube.

Acute or chronic tinnitus

If the perception of tinnitus lasts up to three months, then they speak of acute tinnitus.Acute, first-onset tinnitus is often spontaneous and disappears after appropriate therapy or simply rest. If tinnitus persists for more than three months, then we are talking about chronic tinnitus. Both conditions require action.

So, the patient during the acute phase is usually treated by an otolaryngologist. In most cases, circulatory therapy is prescribed. Unfortunately, there is no clear evidence to support the effectiveness of these measures.

In the chronic stage, the most realistic goal is to get used to tinnitus.Medical treatment can be ruled out. All measures focus on reducing tension (burden).

Why are sick people often irritable?

People with tinnitus at the first stage of onset are often irritated, restless, frightened, because they do not understand what is happening, cannot get complete and objective information about this condition. People are even more desperate when they hear the phrase of a specialist: “Unfortunately, we can’t do anything here, you have to live with it”.

The specialist needs to explain the cause of the tinnitus in order to reduce the patient’s fears and doubts. In this case, it is very important to eliminate the negative thoughts that arise.

Material taken from Hörakustik magazine, No. 12 2018

Output

Tinnitus is an auditory phenomenon that occurs as a result of dysfunction of the inner ear and the central portions of the auditory pathway.

In rare cases, tinnitus is caused by objective reasons.The severity and problematics of tinnitus are less dependent on the site of excitation (auditory pathway) than on the site of treatment. All the resulting load amplification factors are combined in the upper cycle.

First of all, the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the control of perception, the limbic system as the center of emotional assessment and the amygdala as the “fear center”. This functional connection controls the phenomenon of tinnitus, preserves and also amplifies or attenuates.Stress and similar illnesses affect whether a patient experiences tinnitus or not.

Take an online hearing test

What does a hearing test do?

We suggest taking the following hearing tests: signs of hearing loss; frequency online hearing test; hearing test in noise; speech recognition; modeling of signs of hearing loss.

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