What causes tinnitus and how can it be treated effectively. How do hearing aids help manage tinnitus symptoms. What are the most effective non-medical options for tinnitus relief. How does tinnitus retraining therapy work to reduce ear ringing. What lifestyle changes can help prevent or reduce tinnitus.

Understanding Tinnitus: The Persistent Ringing in Your Ears

Tinnitus, commonly known as ringing in the ears, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s characterized by the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. While often described as a ringing, tinnitus can manifest as buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other phantom noises.

Persistent tinnitus can significantly impact one’s quality of life, affecting concentration, sleep, and overall well-being. Understanding its causes and available treatments is crucial for those seeking relief.

Common Causes of Tinnitus

• Exposure to loud noises
• Age-related hearing loss
• Ear infections
• Cardiovascular problems
• Certain medications
• Head or neck injuries
• Stress and anxiety

Diagnosing Tinnitus: The First Step Towards Relief

Proper diagnosis is essential for effective tinnitus management. Your healthcare provider will conduct a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Can tinnitus be objectively measured? While tinnitus is a subjective experience, healthcare professionals use various methods to assess its severity and impact:

1. Physical examination of the ears
2. Comprehensive hearing tests (audiograms)
3. Imaging studies (MRI or CT scans)
4. Tinnitus questionnaires to evaluate its impact on daily life

During the diagnostic process, it’s crucial to inform your doctor about all medications you’re taking, as tinnitus can be a side effect of certain drugs.

Medical Treatments for Tinnitus: Addressing the Root Cause

The first line of treatment for tinnitus often involves addressing any underlying medical conditions. This approach can provide significant relief for many sufferers.

Treating Ear-Related Issues

Do you have excessive earwax? Your doctor may remove it using suction or gentle flushing with warm water. For ear infections, prescription ear drops containing hydrocortisone and antibiotics may be prescribed.

Surgical Interventions

In rare cases involving tumors, cysts, or otosclerosis (a calcium deposit on the ear bone), surgery might be necessary. These procedures aim to eliminate the source of tinnitus directly.

Medications for Tinnitus Relief

While no medication specifically treats tinnitus, some drugs may help manage symptoms or address related conditions:

• Low doses of anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., Valium)
• Antidepressants (e.g., Elavil)
• Steroids combined with anti-anxiety medication (e.g., alprazolam)
• Misoprostol (a hormone shown to be effective in some cases)

Is lidocaine an effective treatment for tinnitus? While lidocaine has shown promise in relieving tinnitus for some individuals, its use is generally not recommended due to the associated risks and the need for intravenous or middle ear administration.

Non-Medical Approaches to Tinnitus Management

When medical treatments don’t provide complete relief, or if tinnitus persists after addressing underlying conditions, non-medical options can help reduce or mask the unwanted noise.

Hearing Aids: Amplifying the World Around You

For those experiencing tinnitus alongside hearing loss, hearing aids can be particularly beneficial. By amplifying external sounds, hearing aids can make tinnitus less noticeable and improve overall hearing quality.

Masking Devices: Creating a More Pleasant Soundscape

Tinnitus maskers are devices that produce pleasant sounds to distract from the internal noise of tinnitus. These can be worn like hearing aids or used as bedside devices to aid sleep.

A newer innovation is the tinnitus instrument, which combines the functions of a hearing aid and a masker in a single device.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): Retraining Your Brain’s Response

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is a comprehensive approach that leverages the brain’s natural ability to habituate to certain signals, effectively filtering them out on a subconscious level.

How Does TRT Work?

TRT consists of two primary components:

1. Sound therapy: Patients use neutral sound sources, including in-ear sound generators, to create a constant, low-level background noise.
2. Counseling: One-on-one sessions help patients understand tinnitus and develop coping strategies.

This form of treatment typically takes 12 to 24 months and has shown high success rates when administered by experienced professionals.

Cognitive Therapy and Sound Therapy: Additional Tools for Tinnitus Management

Cognitive therapy focuses on modifying a person’s reaction to tinnitus, helping them develop healthier thought patterns and coping mechanisms. It’s often most effective when combined with other treatment modalities.

Sound therapy, also known as acoustic therapy, aims to make tinnitus less noticeable by introducing external sounds. While it doesn’t cure the condition, it can significantly improve quality of life for tinnitus sufferers.

Types of Sound Therapy

• White noise machines
• Nature sound recordings
• Specialized tinnitus relief apps
• Music therapy

Lifestyle Changes and Prevention Strategies for Tinnitus

While not all cases of tinnitus can be prevented, certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk or alleviate symptoms:

Protect Your Hearing

How can you safeguard your ears from noise-induced tinnitus? Always wear appropriate hearing protection in loud environments, such as concerts, construction sites, or when using power tools.

Manage Stress

Stress can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms. Incorporate stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Deep breathing exercises
• Regular physical activity

Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

Both caffeine and alcohol can affect blood flow and may worsen tinnitus symptoms in some individuals. Consider reducing your intake and monitor any changes in your tinnitus.

Maintain Cardiovascular Health

Good cardiovascular health can help prevent tinnitus related to blood flow issues. Engage in regular exercise and maintain a heart-healthy diet.

Coping Strategies and Support for Tinnitus Sufferers

Living with tinnitus can be challenging, but various coping strategies and support systems can help:

Join Support Groups

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

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness techniques can help you focus on the present moment and reduce the distress associated with tinnitus.

Seek Professional Counseling

A mental health professional can help you develop coping strategies and address any anxiety or depression related to your tinnitus.

Explore Sound Enrichment

Experiment with different background sounds to find what works best for masking your tinnitus. This could include nature sounds, soft music, or white noise.

Emerging Treatments and Research in Tinnitus Management

The field of tinnitus research is constantly evolving, with new treatments and technologies on the horizon:

Neuromodulation Techniques

Researchers are exploring various neuromodulation approaches, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and vagus nerve stimulation, to alter neural activity associated with tinnitus.

Gene Therapy

Advances in gene therapy show promise for treating certain types of hearing loss, which could potentially benefit tinnitus sufferers.

Pharmacological Innovations

New drugs targeting specific neural pathways involved in tinnitus perception are in various stages of development and clinical trials.

Are there any breakthrough treatments on the horizon for tinnitus? While research is ongoing, several promising approaches are being investigated, including targeted drug delivery systems and personalized sound therapy based on individual tinnitus characteristics.

The Importance of Personalized Tinnitus Management

Tinnitus is a highly individualized condition, and what works for one person may not be effective for another. A comprehensive, personalized approach to tinnitus management is often the most successful.

Multidisciplinary Care

Effective tinnitus management often involves a team of healthcare professionals, including:

• Otolaryngologists (ENT specialists)
• Audiologists
• Neurologists
• Mental health professionals
• Physical therapists (for cases related to head or neck injuries)

Regular Follow-ups

Tinnitus management is often an ongoing process. Regular follow-up appointments allow for adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.

Patient Education

Understanding your condition is crucial for effective management. Work with your healthcare providers to learn about tinnitus and stay informed about new developments in treatment options.

How can you actively participate in your tinnitus management? Keep a tinnitus diary to track symptoms, triggers, and the effectiveness of different interventions. This information can be invaluable for refining your treatment approach.

Tinnitus in Special Populations

Tinnitus can affect people of all ages, but certain populations may require special consideration:

Tinnitus in Children

While less common, tinnitus can affect children. Diagnosis and treatment may require specialized approaches, as children may have difficulty describing their symptoms.

Tinnitus in the Elderly

Older adults may experience tinnitus alongside age-related hearing loss. Management strategies may need to account for other health conditions and medications.

Tinnitus in Musicians and Industrial Workers

These groups are at higher risk for noise-induced tinnitus. Prevention strategies and early intervention are crucial.

How can musicians protect their hearing while maintaining their craft? Custom-fitted musician’s earplugs can provide protection without significantly altering sound quality. Regular hearing check-ups are also essential for early detection of any issues.

The Future of Tinnitus Treatment: Integrating Technology and Personalized Medicine

As our understanding of tinnitus grows, so does the potential for more effective, personalized treatments:

AI-Driven Diagnostics

Artificial intelligence could help identify subtle patterns in tinnitus symptoms and their underlying causes, leading to more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments.

Virtual Reality Therapy

VR technology may offer new ways to deliver sound therapy and cognitive behavioral interventions for tinnitus management.

Wearable Technology

Advanced wearable devices could provide real-time tinnitus management, adjusting sound therapy based on the user’s environment and stress levels.

Precision Medicine Approaches

Genetic and biomarker studies may lead to more personalized treatment options, targeting the specific mechanisms underlying an individual’s tinnitus.

Will we ever find a cure for tinnitus? While a universal cure remains elusive, ongoing research and technological advancements offer hope for increasingly effective management strategies and potential breakthroughs in treatment.

Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears) Treatment and Diagnosis

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is Causing My Tinnitus?
• What Are the Treatments for Tinnitus?
• What Will Work for Me?
• How Can I Prevent Tinnitus?

To determine what underlying medical condition may be causing your tinnitus, your doctor will give you a general physical exam, including a careful examination of your ears. Be sure to inform your doctor of all medications you are taking, because tinnitus can be a side effect of some drugs.

If the source of the problem remains unclear, you may be sent to an otologist or an otolaryngologist (both ear specialists) or an audiologist (a hearing specialist) for hearing and nerve tests. As part of your examination, you may be given a hearing test called an audiogram. An imaging technique, such as an MRI or a CT scan, may also be recommended to reveal any structural problem. Learn more about tinnitus and hearing loss.

If your tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, the first step is to treat that condition. But if the tinnitus remains after treatment, or if it results from exposure to loud noise, health professionals recommend various non-medical options that may help reduce or mask the unwanted noise (See Masking Devices below). Sometimes, tinnitus goes away spontaneously, without any intervention at all. It should be understood, however, that not all tinnitus can be eliminated or reduced, no matter the cause.

If you are having difficulty coping with your tinnitus, you may find counseling and support groups helpful. Ask your doctor for a referral.

If the cause of your tinnitus is excessive earwax, your doctor will clean out your ears by suction with a small curved instrument called a curette, or gently flush it out with warm water. If you have an ear infection, you may be given prescription ear drops containing hydrocortisone to help relieve the itching and an antibiotic to fight the infection.

Surgery may be necessary in rare cases of a tumor, cyst, or otosclerosis (a calcium deposit on the ear bone).

If your tinnitus is the result of temporomandibular disorder — sometimes called TMD — your doctor will probably refer you to an orthodontist or other dental specialist for appropriate treatment.

Medications for Tinnitus

Many drugs have been studied for treating tinnitus. For some, treatment with low doses of anti-anxiety drugs — such as Valium or antidepressants such as Elavil — help reduce tinnitus. The use of a steroid placed into the middle ear along with an anti-anxiety medicine called alprazolam has been shown to be effective for some people. Some small studies have shown that a hormone called misoprostol may be helpful in some cases.

Lidocaine, a medication used for the treatment of certain types of abnormal heart rhythms, has been shown to relieve tinnitus for some people, but it must be given intravenously or into the middle ear to be effective. However, the benefits of lidocaine are almost always outweighed by the risks of the drug and it is therefore not recommended and not used for tinnitus.

Hearing Aids

If your tinnitus is accompanied by some hearing loss, a hearing aid may be helpful. They strengthen the sounds you need to hear. That makes the ringing stand out less.

Masking Devices

Many people have also benefited from tinnitus maskers, devices resembling hearing aids that play a sound more pleasant than the internal noise produced by the tinnitus. You can use bedside devices at night to help you sleep. You can also wear maskers in or behind your ear all the time. A newer device is a tinnitus instrument, which is a combination of hearing aid and masker.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT depends upon the natural ability of the brain to “habituate” a signal, to filter it out on a subconscious level so that it does not reach conscious perception. Habituation requires no conscious effort. People frequently habituate many auditory sounds — air conditioners, computer fans, refrigerators, and gentle rain, among them. What they have in common is that they have no importance, so they are not perceived as ”loud.” Thus, the brain can screen them out.

TRT has two parts:

1. The person with tinnitus will play some source of neutral sound everywhere they go, including wearing in-the-ear sound generators.
2. The person with tinnitus receives one-on-one counseling.

This form of tinnitus treatment takes 12 to 24 months and is highly successful in experienced hands.

Cognitive Therapy

This is a form of counseling that helps a person to modify their reaction to the tinnitus. It works best when combined with other forms of therapy, such as masking or medication.

Sound Therapy

Sometimes called acoustic therapy, this can make the ringing or buzzing in your ears less noticeable. It won’t cure the condition. But it can make it easier to live with.

Special devices that make a quiet background noise can be put on a tabletop or nightstand or carried with you. If your tinnitus bothers you at night, you might put a media player, computer, or electric fan on a bedside table. If your symptoms are constant, you might use a smartphone app or wear a sound generator.

Some devices can be customized for your case. They play sounds at frequencies and tones tailored to your needs. Typically, you’ll use one for a set amount of time each day, like before bed.

The kind of device you use will depend on your symptoms. For example, if you’re sensitive to noises like a running faucet or dishwasher that other people aren’t (a condition known as hyperacusis), certain devices might not work well for you. Your doctor will help you find one that’s right for your situation.

Bimodal therapy

As the name implies, bimodal therapy treats tinnitus by training the brain to think differently about sound using two forms of sensory stimulation – sound and touch. By using non-invasive, external devices a few minutes a day, you can change how your brain perceives sound. One option delivers both sound to the ears and electrical stimulation to the tongue, while another involves a wristband and phone app. You listen to sounds on the app and the wristband vibrates to confirm the presence of external sound. 

Relaxation Techniques

Stress can make tinnitus worse. Find ways that help you manage anxiety like deep breathing, exercise, and biofeedback, a relaxation technique that helps people to manage stress by changing their reaction to it. Some people find it is helpful in reducing tinnitus.

Dental Treatment

Some professionals believe tinnitus can be caused by a problem with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the area where the jaw bone attaches to the head, just in front of the ear. They suggest that dental treatment may relieve symptoms of tinnitus, because the muscles and nerves in the jaw are closely connected to those in the ear.

Cochlear Implants

These devices, implanted in the ear, are mostly used to treat severe deafness. They seem to also help some people with tinnitus-related hearing loss that is significant. The device works by sending electrical signals from the ear to the brain. However, this surgery is not performed for tinnitus alone and is used only for hearing problems.

Alternative Treatments

Although no vitamin supplements or other alternative therapies have been proven beneficial to treat tinnitus, some people try herbal preparations such as ginkgo biloba or minerals such as zinc or magnesium with varying results. Others have experienced relief with acupuncture, magnets, or hypnosis.

Talk to your doctor before trying any of these treatments.

Talk to your doctor before trying any of these treatments. Tinnitus is unique to each person, so getting the right treatment may mean trying different options and combinations to find what’s right for you.

If you combine therapies for tinnitus, you’ll be going to more than one health care provider. You’ll need to see a behavioral or mental health specialist along with a hearing professional.

Successful combined treatment also takes commitment. Many forms of therapy — including behavioral therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy — may take several sessions over a few months, depending on your specific circumstances and the types of treatment.

Your risk of developing tinnitus increases with exposure to loud noises, so hearing protection is an important intervention. If you are around a noise that is so loud you cannot speak at a normal conversation level, you should wear ear plugs, move away from the noise source, or turn it down.

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Pulsatile Tinnitus: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

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What is pulsatile tinnitus?

Pulsatile tinnitus is caused by blood circulating in or near your ears.

Unlike most types of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus has a physical source of sound that your ears pick up. It’s an amplified sound of blood circulating through your arteries.

The ringing or buzzing you hear with other kinds of tinnitus is a result of nerves picking up on abnormal electrical signals moving from your ears to your brain.

The main symptom of pulsatile tinnitus is hearing a sound in your ears that seems to match your heartbeat or pulse. You may even be able to take your pulse while you’re hearing the sound in your ears.

You may also notice heart palpitations or feelings of lightheadedness. You should have these symptoms evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. If you experience sudden chest pain or other signs of a heart attack, call 911.

There are many possible causes of pulsatile tinnitus, but they all stem from circulation issues. Among the most common causes are:

High blood pressure

When your blood pressure rises, the force of blood against the inner walls of your arteries increases. More forceful blood flow in arteries in or around the ears is easier for your ears to detect.

Atherosclerosis

Blockage in your arteries caused by a buildup of cholesterol, fats, and waste materials can cause blood flow to be turbulent. If this is the cause, you may hear a rhythmic noise in one of your ears.

Read more: Is it possible to reverse atherosclerosis? »

Turbulent blood flow

Narrowed neck arteries (carotid arteries) or veins (jugular veins) may also cause a change in blood flow to and from the head. Your ears may pick up on this turbulent or irregular circulation, causing pulsatile tinnitus.

Head or neck tumors

A tumor that presses against a vein can also cause pulsatile tinnitus.

Abnormal capillaries

A problem with the tiny blood vessels that help connect your arteries to your veins, or capillaries, can cause pulsatile tinnitus.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you think you’re experiencing pulsatile tinnitus. Your exam will start with a review of your symptoms and your medical history.

The doctor will probably use a stethoscope to listen to your chest, neck, and skull. If your doctor can also hear a pulsatile noise, you have objective pulsatile tinnitus. If not, it’s labeled as subjective pulsatile tinnitus.

You’ll also have hearing tests to determine whether there has been any hearing loss in one or both ears. Your doctor may order some imaging tests as well. These include:

• ultrasound
• MRI
• CT scan
• angiography

You may also be tested for high blood pressure and given a blood test to check for thyroid disease or anemia.

If it appears as though you have pulsatile tinnitus, you may be referred to a cardiologist (heart specialist) for an exam and screenings for possible circulation problems or high blood pressure.

Pulsatile tinnitus can cause sleeping problems. Poor sleep can lead to:

• difficulty with concentration
• low energy
• cardiovascular problems
• weight gain and other metabolism issues

Pulsatile tinnitus is often treated by addressing the underlying cause.

High blood pressure and vein and artery conditions can usually be treated with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes, including:

• a low-sodium diet
• regular exercise
• no smoking
• stress reduction

If the cause relates to a specific problem in an artery or vein, surgery or a catheter procedure may be needed to treat the condition. A flexible mesh tube, called a stent, is sometimes placed in a blocked artery to open it up and improve blood flow.

Sound therapy

If the blood vessel can’t be treated, you may benefit from sound therapy. This involves playing background noise, such as soft music or “white noise,” to distract you from the tinnitus or change your brain’s sensitivity to the pitch of the tinnitus. You may also benefit from cognitive behavior therapy, a form of talk therapy designed to change the way you think about a problem in order to change your emotional reaction to it and the way you behave toward it.

Find white noise machines online.

The outlook for pulsatile tinnitus depends on the underlying cause. Most of the conditions that cause pulsatile tinnitus can be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.

Treatment of noise and tinnitus in Moscow. Paid neurology at affordable prices

Rings, buzzes, buzzes, hisses, whistles, rustles in the ear – and all this without an external sound source. If you are familiar with this, then you suffer from tinnitus.

Almost 20% of the world’s people are familiar with these sensations in the ears. Tinnitus most often affects people over 40 years of age, while in almost 80% of cases it develops in people with different forms and degrees of hearing loss.

Although tinnitus is not a life-threatening pathology, this problem needs to be addressed. Due to constant noise or ringing in the ears, a person experiences significant discomfort, which worsens his personal life and has an extremely negative impact on the professional sphere. As a rule, such people have a violation of the perception of reality, and because of this – problems with concentration, increased sensitivity to various sounds, sleep disorders, insomnia, depression, and even loss of self-confidence and their abilities. Therefore, we can say with confidence that tinnitus is a rather serious problem in neurology, the solution of which requires the participation of an experienced specialist.

Diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus at ON CLINIC

ON CLINIC medical centers have everything necessary to conduct a detailed diagnosis and identify the exact causes of pulsating, constant and other types of noise and ringing in the ears. Treatment is on a case-by-case basis and depends on the cause of the tinnitus and possible comorbidity.

Diagnosis of tinnitus in our clinics includes a consultation with a neurologist, instrumental research methods, if necessary, the patient is shown consultations of other narrow specialists, in particular, an otorhinolaryngologist.

Having found out the causes of pulsating, constant and other types of noise and ringing in the ear, our doctors will definitely provide you with effective assistance.

Sometimes, in order to treat noise and tinnitus, in addition to the main therapy (using medication and instrumental techniques), it is necessary to conduct cognitive behavioral therapy, that is, the help of a psychotherapist. It plays a big role in eliminating insomnia that has arisen due to constant ringing in the ears. The silence of the night contributes to a better perception of noise. Therefore, the night is the time of day, which gives a person with a similar problem, maximum inconvenience. Contact our specialists. They will help you solve your problem in the most efficient way. Trust your health to professionals.

Causes of noise and ringing in the ears

A short tinnitus can be felt by each of us after exposure to our hearing aid of any loud sounds. This is not a matter of concern, but the norm – a natural natural phenomenon. But only if the noise lasts less than 5 minutes.

If the noise or ringing in the ear persists for more than 5 minutes and occurs without a reason, this is an alarm signal – you should pay close attention to your health.

The situation is especially serious if tinnitus is accompanied by a concomitant symptom – dizziness (vertigo), that is, a condition when a person feels the rotation of his own body or objects surrounding it.

Tinnitus itself and the accompanying dizziness are not diseases. But they signal serious problems in the body. Tinnitus and dizziness can be a manifestation of a huge number of diseases, including life-threatening ones. In most cases, tinnitus and dizziness are caused by diseases such as:

• osteochondrosis;
• Meniere’s disease;
• head and neck tumors and others.

These illnesses can have serious consequences. Fortunately, like any pathology, they can be successfully overcome. However, an important rule plays a major role here – the rule of timely contacting a doctor. The more time passes from the moment of the development of the disease to the visit to the doctor, the stronger the disease “clutches” to your body and with great pleasure “settles down” in it. To prevent such a development of events, pay attention to such alarming signals, “bells”, as tinnitus.

Symptoms of tinnitus

A person can feel tinnitus both in the right and in the left ear separately, and simultaneously in both ears. Most often, noise can manifest itself in the form of a ringing, less often – a hum, whistle, buzz or hiss. The following accompanying symptoms are characteristic of ringing in the ears:

• headaches of various localization;
• nausea, dizziness;
• distorted perception of extraneous sounds;
• intolerance to bright light, etc.

If you are faced with this problem, be aware that the treatment of noise and tinnitus requires the mandatory participation of a neurologist. ON CLINIC medical centers employ highly experienced specialists who have helped hundreds of their patients with a similar problem.

Video with doctors

Andrianova I.M., neurologist. Headache treatment in ON CLINIC.

Ringing in the ears: causes, diagnosis, treatment

Ringing in the ears is a fairly common problem, usually occurring after 50 years of age. People with tinnitus (also known as “ringing or buzzing in the ears”) may also hear hissing, clicking, or whistling. Excessive or cumulative noise exposure, head and neck injuries, and ear infections are considered common causes. Sometimes this can indicate a serious illness.

Ringing in the ears is not a separate disease, but only a symptom, so there is no cure for it, although there are ways to manage it. Most people with chronic tinnitus become accustomed to the ringing over time, but one in five patients find the sound disturbing and debilitating. Some even begin to suffer from insomnia, difficulty concentrating, irritability, anxiety and depression.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a sound that does not actually come from any external source. Such noise is usually subjective, meaning that only the person who has tinnitus can hear it. The most common form of tinnitus is a persistent, high-pitched ringing. It can be annoying, but usually does not indicate a serious condition.

In less than 1 percent of cases, ringing can be objective (other people can hear it too). This type of tinnitus can be caused by cardiovascular or musculoskeletal movements in the human body and may be a medical emergency.

Symptoms

Tinnitus is a non-auditory, internal sound that may be intermittent or continuous in one or both ears. Different people describe sounds in different ways – whistling, chirping, clicking, screeching, hissing, roaring, buzzing, throbbing, and even grunting.

The sound volume can also fluctuate. Most often it appears at night or during a calm moment, and in rare cases leads to hearing loss.

Treatment

Before treating tinnitus, the underlying cause of the noise must be identified. Tinnitus may be caused by:

• Ear infection surgery
• Taking any ototoxic drugs
• Treatment of any temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems that affect the joint between the jawbone and cheek

In most cases, tinnitus cannot be cured, so many people simply get used to it. Ignoring instead of focusing on the unpleasant sound can bring welcome relief. When that doesn’t work, treating the effects of tinnitus – insomnia, anxiety, social isolation, and depression – can help. Solving these problems can significantly improve the quality of human life.

Home remedies

Here are some other ways to control tinnitus and its effects:

• Sound Therapy uses external noise to mask a person’s perception of tinnitus. Low frequency background music, white noise, or specially designed sounds can help. The selected sound should be pleasant for the person. Masking devices offer temporary relief, but the tinnitus returns after therapy is stopped.

Hearing aids are a common type of sound therapy. They amplify the sounds of the environment and redirect attention to these noises instead of ringing in the ears.

• Tinnitus Training Therapy (TRT) involves retraining the auditory system to perceive tinnitus as natural rather than depressing. The therapy consists of the help of a trained professional and wearing a device that emits low frequency white noise. The success of this therapy is proportional to the severity of the tinnitus and the person’s mental health. Studies show that TRT provides relief to approximately 80 percent of people with tinnitus.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is unlikely to improve tinnitus but may relieve depression in people with tinnitus.

Healthy lifestyle

One way to prevent tinnitus and possible hearing loss is to avoid exposure to loud noises.

To prevent damage or hearing loss:

• Use hearing protection such as earplugs in noisy environments
• Listen to music with headphones at a moderate volume

Lifestyle improvements will not stop tinnitus, but it can reduce its intensity and provide physical and emotional benefits. Exercise, proper nutrition, good sleep, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, recreational and social activities, and stress management and relaxation techniques will help achieve optimal health.

Diagnosis

If you hear ringing, see your doctor for an examination to determine the cause. Testing can help rule out rare but life-threatening causes of tinnitus.

Questions a doctor may ask to clarify a diagnosis include:

• How and when did this start?
• Are the sounds continuous, intermittent or pulsating?
• Is there any hearing loss or dizziness?
• Is there pain or clicking in the jaw?
• Have you had a recent illness or injury?
• Has there been any exposure to loud noise such as a rock concert or explosives?

Examinations may include:

• Complete examination of ears, head, neck and trunk
• Hearing tests
• Laboratory blood tests

Causes

The most common cause of tinnitus is damage to the tiny sensory hair cells in the cochlea of ​​the inner ear. These damages are often related to the aging process, but can also occur as a result of prolonged exposure to excessively loud noise. Tinnitus may precede hearing loss.

Research shows that sensory loss of certain sound frequencies leads to changes in how the brain perceives and processes sounds. As the brain receives fewer external stimuli of a certain frequency, it begins to adapt and change. Tinnitus may result from the brain’s attempt to fill in the missing sound frequencies it no longer receives from its own auditory system.

In addition, some medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, antibiotics, and diuretics may be “ototoxic”. They harm the inner ear, which leads to tinnitus.

Other possible causes:

• Head and neck injuries
• Ear infections
• Foreign object or earwax touching eardrum
• Eustachian tube problems (middle ear)
• Temporomandibular Joint Injury (TMJ)
• Stiffness of the bones of the middle ear
• Traumatic brain injury
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Diabetes

If the cause of tinnitus is a foreign body or earwax, removal of the object or wax will often solve the problem completely.