What causes the ringing in your ears. How long does tinnitus typically last. What are effective ways to manage tinnitus symptoms. Can lifestyle changes help reduce tinnitus. When should you see a doctor for tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus and How Common is It?

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by hearing noises that aren’t coming from an external source. These phantom sounds are typically perceived as ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or pulsing sensations in one or both ears, or seemingly inside the head. Surprisingly, tinnitus affects a significant portion of the population. Approximately 1 in 7 adults experience some form of tinnitus, making it a relatively common auditory phenomenon.

While the prevalence of tinnitus is high, its impact on individuals can vary greatly. For some, it’s a minor nuisance that comes and goes. For others, it can be a persistent and distressing condition that significantly affects their quality of life. Understanding the nature of tinnitus is the first step in managing its effects and seeking appropriate treatment when necessary.

Types of Tinnitus Sounds

Tinnitus manifests in various ways, and the sounds experienced can differ from person to person. Common descriptions include:

• High-pitched ringing
• Buzzing or sizzling
• Whooshing or rushing sounds
• Pulsing or rhythmic noises

These sounds may be constant or intermittent, loud or soft, and can change in intensity over time. Some individuals report that their tinnitus is more noticeable at night or in quiet environments, likely due to the lack of external sounds to mask the internal noise.

What Causes Tinnitus?

The exact mechanisms behind tinnitus are not fully understood, but researchers believe it’s related to changes in how the brain processes sound. These changes often occur when there’s damage to the auditory system, particularly to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals.

When these hair cells are damaged or destroyed, they can send erroneous signals to the brain, which interprets them as sound. This theory explains why tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss, whether age-related or noise-induced.

Common Triggers for Tinnitus

Several factors can trigger or exacerbate tinnitus symptoms:

1. Exposure to loud noises (acute or chronic)
2. Age-related hearing loss
3. Earwax blockage
4. Ear infections
5. Changes in blood pressure
6. Certain medications (ototoxic drugs)
7. Head or neck injuries
8. Stress and anxiety

Understanding these triggers can help individuals identify potential causes of their tinnitus and take steps to prevent or manage the condition.

How Does Hearing Damage Relate to Tinnitus?

Hearing damage is one of the most common causes of tinnitus. The delicate hair cells in our inner ears are crucial for translating sound waves into electrical signals that our brains can interpret. When these hair cells are damaged or destroyed, it can lead to both hearing loss and tinnitus.

Exposure to loud noises, whether in a single traumatic event or over an extended period, can cause this type of damage. Common sources of damaging noise include:

• Loud music (especially through headphones)
• Industrial machinery
• Power tools
• Firearms
• Explosions

The risk of hearing damage increases with both the volume of the sound and the duration of exposure. This is why occupations involving frequent exposure to loud noises, such as construction work or music performance, carry a higher risk of developing tinnitus.

Protecting Your Hearing

Given the strong link between hearing damage and tinnitus, protecting your hearing is crucial. Here are some strategies to reduce your risk:

• Wear earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones in loud environments
• Keep the volume down when using headphones or earbuds
• Take regular breaks from loud noises to give your ears time to recover
• Follow the 60/60 rule: listen at 60% of maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes a day
• Have your hearing checked regularly, especially if you work in a noisy environment

Can Medical Conditions Cause Tinnitus?

While hearing damage is a common cause of tinnitus, various medical conditions can also contribute to or exacerbate the symptoms. Understanding these potential causes can help in diagnosing and treating tinnitus effectively.

Ear Infections and Tinnitus

Ear infections can cause temporary tinnitus along with other symptoms such as pain, pressure, and sometimes hearing loss. The infection can affect the middle ear, leading to fluid buildup and inflammation that alters sound perception. In most cases, treating the underlying infection resolves the tinnitus symptoms.

Blood Pressure and Pulsatile Tinnitus

Changes in blood pressure can sometimes lead to a specific form of tinnitus known as pulsatile tinnitus. This type of tinnitus is characterized by rhythmic pulsing sounds that sync with your heartbeat. Conditions that can cause pulsatile tinnitus include:

• Hypertension
• Pregnancy
• Strenuous exercise
• Vascular abnormalities

Managing blood pressure through lifestyle changes or medication can often help alleviate pulsatile tinnitus symptoms.

Other Health Conditions Linked to Tinnitus

Several other health conditions have been associated with tinnitus:

• Diabetes
• Thyroid disorders
• Multiple sclerosis
• Meniere’s disease
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Acoustic neuroma

Additionally, certain medications can cause or worsen tinnitus as a side effect. These may include some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and high doses of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

How Does Mental Health Affect Tinnitus?

The relationship between mental health and tinnitus is complex and bidirectional. While stress, anxiety, and depression can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms, living with persistent tinnitus can also contribute to mental health issues.

Stress and Tinnitus

Stress can significantly impact tinnitus perception. During periods of high stress, many individuals report an increase in the intensity or frequency of their tinnitus symptoms. This may be due to heightened awareness of the tinnitus sound or changes in the body’s stress response affecting auditory processing.

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are common among individuals with chronic tinnitus. The constant presence of unwanted noise can lead to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and isolation. Conversely, these mental health conditions can make tinnitus symptoms feel more intrusive and difficult to ignore.

Managing Mental Health with Tinnitus

Addressing mental health concerns can be an essential part of tinnitus management. Some effective strategies include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness meditation
• Relaxation techniques
• Support groups
• Regular exercise

These approaches can help individuals develop coping mechanisms, reduce stress, and improve their overall quality of life while living with tinnitus.

What Are Effective Management Strategies for Tinnitus?

While there is no cure for tinnitus, various management strategies can help reduce its impact on daily life. The effectiveness of these strategies can vary from person to person, and it may take some trial and error to find the most suitable approach.

Sound Therapy

Sound therapy involves using external noise to alter the perception of or reaction to tinnitus. Common sound therapy techniques include:

• White noise machines
• Nature sound recordings
• Hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features
• Notched-music therapy

These methods can help mask the tinnitus sound or train the brain to focus less on it.

Lifestyle Modifications

Certain lifestyle changes can help manage tinnitus symptoms:

• Limiting caffeine and alcohol intake
• Quitting smoking
• Regular exercise
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Ensuring adequate sleep

These changes can improve overall health and potentially reduce the severity of tinnitus symptoms.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT is a specialized treatment that combines sound therapy with educational counseling. The goal is to habituate the brain to the tinnitus sound, making it less noticeable and bothersome over time. This therapy typically takes 12-24 months and can be effective for many individuals with chronic tinnitus.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that can help individuals change their emotional and behavioral responses to tinnitus. It focuses on altering negative thought patterns and developing coping strategies to reduce the impact of tinnitus on daily life.

When Should You Seek Professional Help for Tinnitus?

While many cases of tinnitus are benign and may improve on their own, there are situations where professional medical advice should be sought. It’s important to recognize when tinnitus might be a sign of a more serious underlying condition or when it’s significantly impacting quality of life.

Signs That Warrant Medical Attention

Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

• Sudden onset of tinnitus, especially in one ear
• Tinnitus accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness
• Pulsatile tinnitus (rhythmic sounds that match your heartbeat)
• Tinnitus that significantly interferes with sleep or daily activities
• Tinnitus associated with neurological symptoms (e.g., headaches, vision changes)

What to Expect During a Tinnitus Evaluation

A thorough tinnitus evaluation typically includes:

1. A detailed medical history
2. Physical examination of the ears
3. Hearing tests
4. Imaging studies (in some cases)
5. Assessment of tinnitus impact on quality of life

Based on the results, your healthcare provider can recommend appropriate treatment options or refer you to a specialist if needed.

Specialists Involved in Tinnitus Care

Depending on the underlying cause and severity of your tinnitus, you may be referred to one or more of the following specialists:

• Otolaryngologist (ENT doctor)
• Audiologist
• Neurologist
• Psychiatrist or psychologist
• Dentist (for TMJ-related tinnitus)

These professionals can provide specialized care and treatment tailored to your specific tinnitus condition.

Why do I hear ringing in my ears – and how can I stop it?

Hearing ringing in your ears is called tinnitus. It’s when you experience noises that only you can hear and aren’t coming from anything around you.

As many as 1 in 7 adults have tinnitus, and although the sensation is strange and can be quite annoying, it’s usually nothing to worry about.

For lots of people, tinnitus gets better on its own. In the meantime, it can help to understand the most common causes of ringing in the ears and what you can do to ease your symptoms.

What does tinnitus sound and feel like?

Tinnitus usually sounds like a high-pitched ringing in your ears, though it can also be a whooshing, sizzling, buzzing or pulsing noise. You might hear the noises in one ear or both, or it can feel like it comes from inside your head.

Tinnitus often comes and goes, and some people find it gets worse at night. This is probably because there’s less going on to distract you from the noise.

What causes ringing in the ears?

Scientists think tinnitus is caused by a change in how sounds are processed in the brain, which starts when your hearing is damaged.

Studies suggest that the brain tries to make up for the hearing loss by increasing activity in the nerve cells responsible for high-pitched sounds. This causes you to hear sounds that aren’t there.

There are lots of triggers for tinnitus and sometimes it’s as simple as built up earwax, which a doctor can remove. Depending on what’s causing the ringing in your ears, you may experience other symptoms.

1. Damage to your hearing

Ringing in the ears is linked to hearing damage, which can be age-related or caused by loud sounds. It could be noises related to your job, like drilling on construction sites, or listening to loud music.

There are little hairs in your ears that vibrate when sound waves hit them, which is how noises reach your brain. Tinnitus and hearing loss can occur when these hairs are damaged. The louder the sound and the longer you listen to it, the more likely you are to experience hearing loss.

What should I do?
The best strategy here is to protect your hearing before the damage happens. Keep loud music to a minimum and wear ear defenders when you’re exposed to loud noises.

2. An ear infection

If you have pain or pressure in your ears, then an ear infection is the most likely culprit behind your tinnitus. Other signs of an ear infection include a high temperature, itching around the ear and ear discharge.

What should I do?
Make an appointment with a doctor if it doesn’t clear up within a couple of days.

3. A change to your blood pressure

If you hear a rhythmic or pulsing noise that syncs with your heart beat, then you may have pulsatile tinnitus. It’s related to a change in your blood pressure, which can be caused by exercise, pregnancy or hypertension.

What should I do?
If you’re getting this regularly then it’s best to speak to a doctor.

4. Other health conditions

Sometimes tinnitus is related to other health conditions, including mental and physical conditions.

Ringing in the ears can be linked to anxiety, depression, and stress. Getting help with mental health can ease tinnitus symptoms.

There are links between tinnitus and diabetes, thyroid disorders and multiple sclerosis. Some medicines cause ringing in the ears too, including chemotherapy, antibiotics and certain painkillers.

Meniere’s disease is a set of symptoms including dizziness, headaches, hearing loss and tinnitus. It’s not common but it’s worth speaking to a doctor if you’re worried – there are treatments available.

How long does tinnitus last?

It’s hard to say exactly how long tinnitus lasts because of the variety of causes. One scientific study found that people’s symptoms tend to improve over time rather than getting worse.

How can I stop the ringing in my ears?

Although there isn’t a direct cure for tinnitus, there are things to help you reduce the triggers and cope with the irritation it can cause.

1. Be mindful of volume

Avoiding any further hearing damage is important if you have tinnitus symptoms. Watch the volume and the length of time you’re exposed to loud sounds. Avoid in-ear headphones, reduce volume levels and wear ear protection.

2. Limit your risk factors

You can take lifestyle steps to reduce your risk of tinnitus or further hearing damage. Smoking, vaping, having poorly controlled diabetes or uncontrolled hypertension can cause damage to the small structures inside your ears, increasing your risk of age-related or .

3. Avoid total silence

Tinnitus often feels most intrusive when there are no other sounds to distract you. Some people find that playing quiet background music or white noise helps, especially when going off to sleep.

4. Try therapy

If tinnitus is disrupting your life or sleep, therapy might be helpful. The idea is to help manage any anxiety and give you the coping tools to make tinnitus less stressful.

When should I speak to a doctor about tinnitus?

If you notice ringing in your ears regularly, it’s worth talking to a doctor.

You should also book an appointment if:

• Your symptoms are getting worse
• Tinnitus is affecting your sleep or worrying you
• The tinnitus pulses with your heartbeat

Get medical help immediately if you develop tinnitus after a head injury or if you have sudden hearing loss or dizziness.

This article has been medically approved by Livi Lead GP, Dr Bryony Henderson.

Tinnitus: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

A person with tinnitus may hear ringing or other sounds in one or both ears. Tinnitus can be temporary or long-term and persistent. Older age and exposure to loud noise may increase the risk of tinnitus, but the exact cause is unclear.

A person may also hear hissing, roaring, or whistling sounds, which may be high or low pitched.

Tinnitus affects around 10% of adults in the United States. It usually affects older adults, but it can occur at any age.

It is often linked with hearing loss.

There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to manage it.

In this article, find out what tinnitus feels like, why it happens, when to see a doctor, and how to manage it.

In most cases, tinnitus is subjective. This means only the individual with tinnitus can hear the sound, and there is no way to measure it. In fewer than 1% of cases, other people can hear the noise.

People commonly describe the sound as:

• ringing
• hissing
• buzzing
• roaring
• whistling

The sound may also:

• affect one or both ears
• be intermittent or continuous
• be high or low pitched

The sound can change in volume. It is often most noticeable at night or during periods of quiet. There may be some hearing loss.

Some people hear a pulsing sound, like a heartbeat, called pulsatile tinnitus. This can happen if there is a cardiovascular problem.

What causes fluttering in the ears?

Tinnitus can affect a person’s overall health and well-being.

The American Tinnitus Association notes that tinnitus can lead to:

• distress and anxiety
• depression
• mood changes
• sleep problems
• lack of focus
• pain

It can also be a sign of an underlying disease, such as Ménière’s disease or a cardiovascular problem. People who experience tinnitus with other symptoms should see a doctor to rule out an underlying condition.

Objective tinnitus — when other people can hear the noise — may result from cardiovascular or musculoskeletal movements, such as an aneurysm or temporomandibular joint disease.

Doctors do not know precisely why tinnitus occurs. Changes in many parts of the brain and nervous system can trigger it.

Possible causes include:

• pressure in the inner ear
• cognitive and emotional factors
• a reaction to the loss of sensory hair cells
• change in interactions between neural circuits in the ear and other parts of the brain

Can anxiety cause ringing in the ears?

Factors that increase the risk of tinnitus include older age and noise exposure. The types of noise that could cause it include:

• workplace noise, for example in buildings or factories
• the sound of gunshots and explosions, including on movie sets
• loud music or working near powerful speakers

People with tinnitus may also have hearing loss. Hyperacusis may also occur, which is hypersensitivity to noise. For example, a person with hyperacusis may find it uncomfortable to hear a door closing or a book dropping.

Various health factors can also lead to tinnitus, including:

• Ménière’s disease
• cardiovascular disease
• hormonal changes
• thyroid problems
• having earwax in the ear
• a brain tumor
• ear or sinus infections
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• a head injury
• multiple sclerosis
• anxiety or depression
• having a foreign object in the ear
• palatal myoclonus, a rare condition that involves rhythmic contractions of muscles in the roof of the mouth

Over 200 drugs can cause tinnitus if a person starts using them or stops taking them. They include:

• chemotherapy
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• aspirin
• antibiotics

Tinnitus that sounds like a heartbeat could be due to a tumor or a cardiovascular problem.

What can I do if my ears are ringing after a concert?

A person should seek medical advice if:

• They have new or sudden tinnitus or tinnitus with other symptoms.
• There may be earwax or a foreign object in the ear that a doctor can remove.
• Tinnitus affects the person’s sleep, ability to interact with others, and other aspects of daily life.
• Tinnitus is causing anxiety or depression.
• The sound is like a heartbeat, which could indicate a cardiovascular problem.
• Another person can hear it, which may be a sign of a more serious condition.

People should seek emergency medical help for tinnitus if it occurs after a head injury or if the person also has:

• vertigo (dizziness)
• weakness in the facial muscles
• sudden hearing loss

Depending on the cause of tinnitus, treatment may involve:

• prompt care for an ear infection
• discontinuing any medications that may be causing it
• removing earwax
• treating an underlying condition
• taking steps to manage or mask the sounds of tinnitus
• counseling to help with related issues, such as anxiety or depression
• treatment for hearing loss, if present

If tinnitus does not go away, the following strategies may help:

Masking

Sound therapy uses external background noise to mask the perception of tinnitus.

This could involve:

• playing low level background music
• playing recordings of white noise
• wearing sound generators that fit in the ear and generate background noise or music
• using hearing aids to amplify environmental sounds
• using a tabletop sound generator that plays relaxing sounds, such as waves or rain

These strategies aim to redirect the attention away from tinnitus. Most people prefer a sound volume just above that of the tinnitus.

What are the best hearing aids for tinnitus?

Counseling

A person can attend counseling sessions alongside other options to help them understand and live with tinnitus. Counseling can also address anxiety, depression, and other related issues.

An audiologist may also offer tinnitus retraining therapy, a specialized therapy that may help people live more comfortably with tinnitus.

Cochlear implants and hearing aids

Addressing underlying hearing loss may help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. A range of interventions can address hearing loss, from amplification devices to surgical implants.

Hearing aids often feature programs to help mask tinnitus.

Lifestyle tips

Here are some more strategies that may help:

• practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing
• avoiding stress or loud background noises when possible, as these can worsen symptoms
• developing a sleep routine, for example, taking a bath and avoiding caffeine before bed
• joining a support group for people with tinnitus
• avoiding total silence, which can make symptoms worse
• seeking distraction, such as from a hobby, to direct attention away from tinnitus

Can acupressure help with tinnitus?

It is not always possible to prevent tinnitus, but people can take measures to reduce the risk, such as:

• using hearing protection, such as ear mufflers and earplugs, in noisy environments
• playing personal listening devices at a moderate volume
• using special earplugs that do not distort sound when playing music or attending a concert
• discussing the adverse effects of any drugs with a doctor before using them

What are the best earplugs for gigs, sleeping, and other situations? Find out here.

If a person seeks medical advice for tinnitus, the doctor may:

• ask about symptoms
• do a test to check for hearing loss
• assess for conditions that may be causing tinnitus
• refer the person to a specialist doctor for more investigations

The doctor may ask the following questions:

• When and how did tinnitus first start?
• Are the noises constant, intermittent, or pulsating?
• Is there any hearing loss or dizziness?
• Is there any pain or jaw clicking?
• Have you had a recent illness or injury?
• Has there been any exposure to loud noise?

Here are some questions people often ask about tinnitus.

Can tinnitus go away?

Tinnitus can go away if it results from a temporary cause, such as earwax, drug use, or an underlying condition. If it results from permanent damage to the ear or another structure, it will not disappear.

How can you get rid of tinnitus?

Treating an underlying problem or stopping certain medications can resolve tinnitus. If tinnitus does not go away, however, masking and other strategies can help manage it. Finding ways to manage anxiety and stress may also help.

What are the first signs of tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a sound such as ringing, buzzing, roaring, or whistling that only the hearer can hear.

Tinnitus is a sound that a person hears that nobody else can hear. People describe it as ringing, hissing, buzzing, or roaring. It is common and often affects older adults, though it can happen at any age.

In most cases, tinnitus will not go away completely, but if it is due to earwax or medication, it may resolve after treatment. People can manage tinnitus through strategies such as masking, which means playing other sounds, to distract the attention from tinnitus.

“My ears are ringing, is that normal?” ENT about how to protect your hearing

In the section “Healthy lifestyle” we tell you how to change your body and thoughts. Today we talked with otorhinolaryngologist Alexey Perminov about how to understand that something is wrong with hearing, and what to do if there is noise, ringing and shooting in the ears.

Otorhinolaryngologist Alexey Borisovich Perminov.

– I think my hearing is getting worse . Is this normal?

– Most often not. Only if you are aging (and you are somewhere over 65 years old or more), hearing has decreased gradually (over several years) and this is confirmed by an ENT doctor using special diagnostic methods. With age, both vision and hearing become worse: our cells partially age, partially die. In addition, the work of the brain is reduced. Everything deteriorates over time. And there’s nothing you can do about it, you can’t return it to its previous state. There are prescribed values ​​​​of the norm of hearing for a certain age.

There is a theory why, as we age, we first hear high-pitched sounds worse. Our inner ear (“cochlea”) is arranged in such a way that the sound wave first acts on the upper sections, which perceive high sounds, and on the deep ones, which perceive low ones, respectively, last. Therefore, the cells of the former wear out faster.

In other cases, hearing loss or, moreover, hearing loss is a symptom or consequence of an illness. And the sooner you start treatment, the greater the likelihood of recovery. Among ENT doctors there are those who specialize in the pathology of the ear and hearing: audiologists, audiologists and hearing prosthetists.

– What diseases can impair hearing?

– This may be due to a huge number of diseases. Otitis – inflammation of the middle ear – especially chronic, is paired with hearing problems, temporary and permanent. In the case of acute otitis media, hearing is most often restored with treatment. Some diseases are associated with blood vessels, others, such as Meniere’s disease (non-suppurative disease of the inner ear), are associated with diseases of the inner ear. Sometimes stomach problems are reflected in the ears: the same reflux, and especially often in children.

But most often hearing and ears are affected by problems with the nose and throat, which is why only one doctor, an otorhinolaryngologist, deals with the treatment. Even a common cold can cause serious complications.

– That is if I notice that my hearing is getting worse, but I still (seem) not getting old, do I need to run to the doctor?

– A consultation is required if hearing loss is accompanied by dizziness, ear pain and/or other symptoms.

Emergency consultation is required when one or both ears completely stop hearing or hearing is suddenly reduced (including a feeling of congestion in the ear), when there is unusual discharge from the ear (blood, pus, clear liquid), sharp pain and pain, accompanied by increased temperature.

Normal discharge from the ear – wax. She has 4 types that are inherited genetically, that is, they can be completely different in two different people. Sulfur is needed by our body – like, for example, a tear in the eye – it is a protection against bacteria, viruses, fungi. It can be considered a violation if there is a lot of sulfur, a smell appears or the consistency changes. Sometimes during an illness, even a common cold, sulfur can become more or it becomes more liquid – this is the norm, do not panic.

In general, everything that worries you, even banal discomfort, is a reason to go to the doctor. ENT diseases are different in that all our problems look about the same. There are only a few complaints for diseases of the ear: the ear either hurts, or does not hear, or something follows from there, and separately – dizziness. At the same time, there are many diseases, and they are treated in different ways.

And it is important to pay attention not only to poor hearing, but also to the feeling of congestion, which often leads to a runny nose and tubo-otitis that develops against its background. True, if mild congestion (sometimes with crackling) in the ear during a runny nose appears and disappears during the day (symptoms of tubo-otitis) and these symptoms continue for up to 7 days, then for an adult it is not necessary to immediately show an ENT doctor. With some reservations: no flight is planned, no chronic ear diseases.

– Why can I suddenly stop hearing?

– If there are no symptoms such as pain and discharge, it is most likely a sulfur plug. This is the best option, and a miracle of healing will happen in ten minutes of a doctor’s appointment.

A bad option is sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Roughly speaking, for the ear it’s like a heart attack. And here time is already working against a person – the earlier he applied, the better the result. If it came after a few months, hearing loss may remain forever. It is dangerous to walk for more than a day and do nothing if the hearing has dropped to almost zero. Unfortunately, this is far from an uncommon situation.

– Why do sulfur plugs appear?

– There are many variants and causes, but the most common ones are the regular presence of a foreign body in the ear (ear plugs, swimming plugs, hearing aid, etc. ), skin diseases (dermatitis, psoriasis), work in conditions of excessive dust, for example in a coal mine.

Improper ear hygiene can also be the cause. The main mistake is the use of cotton buds. They even sometimes write that they are not intended for cleaning inside the ears. In addition to a finger, a towel and water, the ear should never be cleaned with anything.

The ear is cleaned with water and a finger during the shower and dried with a towel or, in extreme cases, a hair dryer. All. The hole in the ear is as big as the finger: you need to clean as deep as you can reach. Further, it is specially narrowed. Healthy ears do not require special care and devices.

You can wash as often as you wash your head and body – even every day. And even soap: the outer ear is a continuation of the skin, with its own characteristics and nuances, but nonetheless.

– Why is it “shooting” in the ear?

– There is no such term as “shooting in the ear”, it’s just a description of the pain. About 30 causes of ear pain have been described. The reasons are quite diverse: problems with the throat, larynx, nose, skin, cervical spine, and so on.

– Why is my ear ringing? Should I go to the doctor with this?

– This is one of the most common complaints. In general, ringing is a subjective interpretation of noise in the ear, which can be of different frequency and nature.

You should be concerned about ringing in your ear if it lasts a day or more. This can be a symptom of hearing loss and more serious problems: sensorineural hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, neurinoma (tumor) of the VIII pair of cranial nerves, etc.

– What if my ear does not ring all day, but only in the evening when I go to bed ?

– You notice the noise in the evening, because in silence it is simply better heard, that is, during the day you may not notice it because of the sounds around you. This is a typical problem. If this happens systematically, you still need to check your hearing, do an audiogram, see what happens there. Mandatory blood pressure control: with numbers above 139/89 – consultation of the therapist.

Sometimes periodic ringing can occur due to fatigue, lack of sleep or overexertion, excessive coffee consumption – more than 6 cups a day.

The same is true with “shoots”: if they are long, you should pay attention.

Sometimes people get used to sounds and stop hearing them. This is even the basis for the treatment of tinnitus, when we cannot remove it in any other way. The essence of the technique is that a person listens for a long time to a sound that is most similar to the noise inside the ear. Over time, the brain begins to ignore it, like the beating of its own heart, intestinal noise, the work of the joints, etc. This does not annoy us if there is no neurosis.

– What should I do if I get a bug or other small object in my ear?

– If a living creature has fallen, and this is a very painful condition, any oil is poured into the ear in order to kill the insect. Then our work is connected – the removal of a foreign body.

If it is not alive, it is strictly forbidden to try to get the object on your own. It is removed by special washing or tools, which depend on the shape and type of the object. If some plant thing, for example, peas, gets into the ear, then it cannot be washed out with water at all, because it swells and the process only becomes more complicated.

– What if water gets into your ear?

– It should flow out by itself, as most often happens, but you can jump and try to dry your ear with a towel, and pull it up and back (in an adult). If the discomfort persists the next morning, this is a sign of a problem and a reason to go to a specialist.

The ear is adapted to the ingress of water. During the first nine months of life, before giving birth, we are in the amniotic fluid and feel great doing it. In a normal situation, water in the ear does not affect health in any way.

– And if there are no other symptoms or illnesses, but I hear worse?

– This is a social issue. Here it is important to understand whether it bothers you or not. It’s like glasses: if you can’t read properly without them, you go to the ophthalmologist for a prescription. If prolonged hearing impairment prevents a person from communicating, getting a job, etc., this is a reason for hearing aids – fitting a hearing aid on the recommendation of a doctor. In any case, if you have complaints, a doctor’s examination is mandatory – to establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Hearing aids are now high-tech devices, some you can control with your smartphone, some you can swim. And the sizes are such that it is not easy to see them. In general, with reduced hearing in both ears, the presence of a good hearing aid (and preferably two) is good. If hearing is reduced and a person does not use a hearing aid, then over the years, the parts of the brain that perceive sound stop working (“as unnecessary”).

Specially trained doctors are engaged in the selection and adjustment, there are so many subtleties in this matter. Self-purchase for yourself and your family can often be not only of little use, but also harmful.

In recent years, both in children and adults, hearing has been restored with the help of implantation of a special device. If someone suddenly becomes deaf – and this, unfortunately, happens – there is a chance that the operation will help. Provided that the hearing aid does not help.

– What, besides diseases, most often damages hearing?

– Mostly loud sounds: shots, firecrackers, music (especially for a long time), etc. Constant phone calls in one ear can also affect. People who have constant noise at work are also at risk: metro drivers, builders, professional musicians, bell ringers and even teachers.

In addition to constant noise, the hearing is also badly affected by systematic strong vibration. Locomotive drivers, conductors, workers with jackhammers are also at risk.

By the way, an interesting example from history. The Guinness Book of Records holds the record for the loudest snoring. And the wife of its owner in one ear had a sharply reduced hearing.

From the non-obvious to many – chronic lack of sleep and stress, the use of toxic substances: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, if it causes vascular spasms. In general, anything that affects the brain can have a negative effect on the ears. Hearing is the work of not only the ear, but also the nerves that go to it, and the brain.

Malocclusion also affects hearing. Pathology of the temporomandibular joint can cause vasospasm, noise and pain in the ear, up to hearing loss. But this is a long-term problem that has been building up over the years. If you notice this in yourself, consult an orthodontist, and then he will work on your problem in tandem with an ENT doctor.

– Is it true that earplugs are harmful?

– Any foreign body placed in a cavity that is not intended for this can cause skin irritation – dermatitis, external otitis. This is a risk factor for the occurrence of diseases of the external ear.

And how harmful they are – the time you spend in headphones and the volume are important here. But, if you need headphones for constant work, it is better to choose large “professional” devices. And, of course, do not forget to listen to music at a moderate volume. And if you have the opportunity to work, listening to music with the help of speakers, and not headphones, choose the first option.

It’s better not to listen to music in a noisy place. Noise in the subway is not an excuse to turn up the music, but an excuse to do something else. Read, for example.

– How can I avoid hearing loss?

– There is a concept of “hearing hygiene”. In fact, this is normal sleep, timely treatment of other diseases (the same arterial hypertension, problems of the cervical spine), periodic examinations by a doctor if your work is associated with certain risks – noise, vibration.

There is also ear protection: individual and group. Examples of a group are noise-proof shields along the highway, mufflers on car engines, a ban on jet aircraft flying near residential premises, etc.

Personal protection can be earplugs, special earmuffs used during shooting practice, chainsaw operation and noisy objects.

– What can I do to keep my hearing from getting worse prematurely?

– It’s simple. Prevention includes the treatment of blood pressure, diabetes, control of blood cholesterol, the state of the cardiovascular system, timely treatment of diseases of the ear, throat and nose, the absence of frequent sharp sounds and ear protection. If these are temporary works with noise – ear protection with headphones.

– We talked about hearing loss, but what can its worsening mean? For example, if a person suddenly began to hear a construction site that has been going on outside the window for a year.

– The aggravation of hearing cannot be the main symptom, it is accompanied by something else. Most often it is a matter of emotional state. Possible options: the development of neurosis, anxiety or depression. The last two can be self-checked on the HADS Depression Scale. Scored the indicated number of points – consult with a psychotherapist. It is possible that a person just fell in love, got divorced, or experienced another emotional shock. But there is a possibility of serious diseases.

It may also be due to a change in the hormonal state, for example, in a pregnant woman. Some diseases of the nervous system can be manifested by heightened sensitivity – for example, migraine.

– What is the most common thing to deal with?

– I can’t tell you exactly the official statistics for Belarus and Minsk, but in fact the most common diseases are acute inflammatory processes, otitis media. They come in different types, depending on which parts of the ear are inflamed.

And untreated otitis, by the way, is the most dangerous. In children, acute and otitis media can end very badly, up to resuscitation. Chronic otitis media in adults is usually accompanied by discharge from the ear and sometimes hearing loss. There are even types that require mandatory surgical treatment as a preventive measure for fatal complications, although a person is not particularly worried about anything outside of an exacerbation. Otorhinolaryngology is a surgical specialty. If suddenly something serious happened to you, you will be operated on at any time of the day or night.

In general, before the revolution of 1917, ear diseases were among the top five causes of death in the territory of modern Belarus. Until the beginning of the age of antibiotics, before medical care became more or less available, otitis often led to complications, including death. Until now, because of them around the world, on average, about 50 thousand people die a year.

– How often should I be examined?

– Active detection of hearing problems is required only for children and for jobs with hazardous conditions. There is a national program for identifying congenital hearing problems, which has been practiced for several years in maternity hospitals: the sooner we find the problem, the better the prognosis – up to three years, it is most often possible to completely correct hearing. And this is very important, because without it a whole part of the brain does not develop.

Children should be seen according to the official visiting calendar: in the first year of life, before kindergarten, before school. During training, there are scheduled checks. Adults have such medical examinations when they are hired, before the army, and when there are complaints.

The doctor decides what and how to examine. There are a lot of hardware methods that allow you to find out everything about the condition of the ears, whether a person hears or not, even if he is unconscious or simply does not want to talk about it: simulators who do not want to join the army are very easy to identify (smiling) .

– How can hearing loss affect me?

– First of all, it affects the emotional background, as well as a decrease in the work of any other sense organs. Deaf people are a completely different world, relationships, brain development, behavior. This is especially true for those who have hearing loss since childhood. You yourself get irritated and angry if you hear something badly.

Hearing loss, even partial, affects the voice. People start talking louder.

And finally, there is the concept of danger. We may not hear a car pull up behind us, or someone yelling “Watch out!” etc. Before working at height, for example, a hearing test is mandatory.

– Are there any exercises to develop and maintain hearing?

– There is no exercise that will help develop or improve hearing. For certain diseases, such as tubo-otitis, there is exercise. And this complex is quite large. There are exercises that help stop dizziness, improve blood flow to the ear area – for this, the ear and the area near it can be massaged. But you won’t hear better from it.

There is also the “self-blowing” exercise, when we tightly close our nose and seem to blow our nose. But it is done when the ear is stuffed up after landing an airplane or diving to a depth.

– Are there any sounds that have a positive effect on the human condition?

– Yes, there is even sound therapy. In the book “In the world of smells and sounds” by Sergei Ryazantsev, a well-known Russian otorhinolaryngologist, who is also a good publicist, there is a lot of interesting information on the topic that is available to a wide range of readers, not only doctors.

Melodious things are always relaxing, noises are the opposite. People living along the roads have trouble sleeping because of the noise, their blood pressure rises more often – because of this, by the way, they began to install protective screens.

Rhythmic sounds can make the heart beat in unison. Therefore, for people with arrhythmia, listening to non-rhythmic music, especially loud music, is not always useful.

Low-frequency sounds (infrasound) cause a feeling of anxiety, because they are characteristic of earthquakes and other cataclysms. Animals feel them better: in the movies, you can see scenes in which animals run in one direction, and something terrible appears after them after a couple of minutes.

Pleasant music improves mood and general emotional background, which, in turn, gives rest to the brain. And when the brain is resting, our senses are sharpened. Mood, by and large, the background component of the brain. There are even special discs with selections of sounds that should affect the mood. Classics – light instrumental music, sounds of nature.

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7 reasons why you can only ring in one ear

• Health

Ringing in the ears – tinnitus – can bother you every day, distracting you from constant affairs. However, in some it occurs in only one ear. Experts explained why this might happen.

November 19, 20212

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“Guess, my boy, which ear is ringing in me,” said the sweetest Freken Bock in the cartoon about the Kid and Carlson. She rang “in both ears”, but more often it happens that she still rings in one. There is even a sign: if someone guesses which ear is ringing, then the wish will come true. And how are things from a medical point of view?

Tinnitus, also known as tinnitus, is a ringing that is not caused by external acoustic influence. Tinnitus can be a symptom of many medical conditions and can even lead to hearing loss if left untreated.

People who suffer from tinnitus describe a wide variety of symptoms. Some hear a whistle, some a ringing. A person may also be annoyed by buzzing, buzzing, hissing, throbbing, and sometimes also music or singing.

Extraneous noise can be in both ears, and in one. Tinnitus in one ear is called unilateral tinnitus.

Such noise in most cases is just a consequence of some disease, doctors say.

The main reasons why it can ring in only one ear:

Earwax

One of the common causes of unilateral tinnitus is the accumulation of earwax.

There must be a certain amount of wax in your ear, which helps prevent harmful bacteria from entering your ear canal and from there onto your eardrum. However, if the body produces too much sulfur, then pressure is formed, due to which extraneous noise occurs.

If you suspect that you have buildup of earwax, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Make an appointment with a doctor to have a doctor examine you and decide if you need this procedure.

Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease is a chronic disease that affects the inner ear. It provokes tinnitus, as well as dizziness and hearing loss.

This disease tends to get worse, it can go away in a few months or even leave you for a few years. However, then the noise and dizziness return. Therefore, do not delay your visit to the doctor.

Ear infections

Ear infections are the most common cause of tinnitus and abnormal sounds in the ear. Most often, children suffer from it.

Infection affects the inner ear, the affected person may also have discomfort, pain and itching in the ear canal. Most often, adults and children suffer from otitis media.

See also

Tympanic membrane ruptured

Another obvious cause of unilateral tinnitus is trauma to the affected ear causing the tympanic membrane to rupture.

These injuries vary in size: small ones usually heal on their own, but after a large tear, the victim may need surgery.

Multiple sclerosis

In some cases, people with multiple sclerosis may experience tinnitus in one ear. This occurs as a result of the impact of the disease on the brain. What is multiple sclerosis, how it manifests itself and is diagnosed, you can read here.