What are the common causes of tinnitus. How does tinnitus affect daily life. What are the warning signs of serious tinnitus. Which treatment options are available for tinnitus. How can tinnitus be prevented or managed at home.

What is Tinnitus and What Causes It?

Tinnitus is a prevalent condition characterized by the perception of sound in the absence of external auditory stimuli. It’s crucial to understand that tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather a symptom of underlying conditions. Many people experience tinnitus as a ringing, buzzing, or humming sensation in one or both ears.

Several factors can contribute to the development of tinnitus:

• Age-related hearing loss
• Exposure to loud noises
• Head or neck injuries
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Inner ear muscle spasms
• Meniere’s disease
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Acoustic neuroma
• Certain blood vessel disorders

Understanding the root cause of tinnitus is essential for determining the most effective treatment approach. In many cases, addressing the underlying condition can significantly alleviate tinnitus symptoms.

Identifying Different Types of Tinnitus Sounds

The nature of the sound experienced in tinnitus can provide valuable clues about its potential cause. Here are some common tinnitus sound types and their possible implications:

Clicking Sounds

If you hear clicking noises, it may indicate issues with muscle contractions in or around the ear. These contractions can be involuntary and may be related to stress or other factors.

Rushing or Humming Sounds

Rushing or humming noises often suggest a vascular issue. These sounds may become more noticeable when changing positions, such as moving from sitting to standing. They could be related to blood flow abnormalities in or near the ear.

Heartbeat-like Sounds

Sometimes, tinnitus manifests as a pulsing sound that mimics your heartbeat. This could indicate a blockage in the ear canal or potentially signal blood vessel problems, including high blood pressure.

Low-Pitched Ringing

A low-pitched ringing is frequently associated with Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that can also cause vertigo and hearing loss.

High-Pitched Ringing

High-pitched ringing often results from damage or injury to the ear, typically caused by exposure to loud noises. While this type of tinnitus may subside over time, it can also become a permanent condition.

How Tinnitus Impacts Daily Life and Well-being

Tinnitus can have far-reaching effects on an individual’s quality of life, extending beyond the auditory symptoms. Some of the ways tinnitus can impact daily functioning include:

• Increased fatigue and stress levels
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Reduced ability to concentrate on tasks
• Memory problems
• Heightened feelings of depression, anxiety, or irritability

These secondary effects can create a cycle of discomfort and distress, potentially exacerbating the tinnitus symptoms themselves. Addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of tinnitus is crucial for comprehensive management.

Warning Signs of Serious Tinnitus Conditions

While tinnitus is often a benign condition, certain symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying issue that requires immediate medical attention. Be alert for the following warning signs:

• Sudden onset of tinnitus without an apparent cause
• Tinnitus that develops immediately after a respiratory infection and doesn’t improve within a week
• Tinnitus that significantly interferes with daily life and activities
• Accompanying symptoms such as hearing loss or dizziness

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional, such as an otolaryngologist or audiologist, as soon as possible. Early intervention can be key in managing potentially serious conditions and preventing further complications.

At-Home Management Strategies for Tinnitus Relief

While medical treatments are often necessary for managing tinnitus, there are several strategies you can implement at home to help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life:

1. Identify and avoid tinnitus triggers: Keep a journal to track activities or environmental factors that may exacerbate your symptoms.
2. Quit smoking: Nicotine can worsen tinnitus symptoms and affect overall ear health.
3. Use ambient noise: Introduce soft background sounds to help mask the tinnitus, such as white noise machines or nature sounds.
4. Practice relaxation techniques: Set aside time each day for activities like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga to reduce stress and tension.
5. Prioritize sleep and exercise: Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule and engaging in regular physical activity can help manage stress and improve overall well-being.
6. Protect your hearing: Use ear protection when exposed to loud noises to prevent further damage to your ears.

In some cases, learning to ignore the tinnitus sounds can be an effective coping strategy. This approach, known as habituation, involves training your brain to filter out the tinnitus sounds as background noise.

Professional Treatment Options for Tinnitus

When at-home management strategies are insufficient, several professional treatment options are available to address tinnitus. These may include:

Medications

Certain medications can help manage underlying conditions causing tinnitus or provide relief from associated symptoms. For example, antidepressants may be prescribed to address anxiety or depression related to tinnitus.

Hearing Aids and Masking Devices

For individuals with hearing loss, hearing aids can help improve overall auditory function and potentially reduce tinnitus perception. Masking devices, similar to hearing aids, produce soothing sounds to help drown out the tinnitus.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT combines sound therapy with counseling to help retrain the brain’s response to tinnitus. This approach aims to reduce the perception and impact of tinnitus over time.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT can help individuals develop coping strategies and change negative thought patterns associated with tinnitus, improving overall quality of life.

Dental Treatments

For tinnitus related to TMJ disorders, dental interventions may help alleviate symptoms by addressing jaw alignment issues.

Cochlear Implants

In cases of severe hearing loss, cochlear implants may be recommended. These devices can sometimes help reduce tinnitus symptoms in addition to improving hearing.

Natural and Herbal Remedies

Some individuals find relief through natural supplements or herbal treatments, although scientific evidence for their efficacy is often limited. Always consult with a healthcare provider before trying any new supplements.

Preventing Tinnitus and Protecting Your Hearing

While not all cases of tinnitus can be prevented, taking steps to protect your hearing can significantly reduce your risk. Here are some preventive measures:

• Use ear protection in noisy environments, such as concerts, sporting events, or when using power tools
• Keep the volume at a moderate level when using headphones or earbuds
• Take regular breaks from prolonged exposure to loud sounds
• Maintain overall ear health through regular check-ups and proper hygiene
• Manage stress levels and overall health, as these factors can influence tinnitus susceptibility

By implementing these preventive strategies, you can help safeguard your hearing and reduce the likelihood of developing tinnitus or exacerbating existing symptoms.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Tinnitus

Recent studies have suggested a potential link between COVID-19 and tinnitus. Some individuals who have contracted the virus have reported new onset or worsening of tinnitus symptoms. While the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood, it’s believed that the stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic, as well as potential neurological effects of the virus, may contribute to this phenomenon.

If you’ve experienced changes in your tinnitus symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, it’s important to discuss this with your healthcare provider. They can help determine if there’s a connection and recommend appropriate management strategies.

As our understanding of COVID-19’s long-term effects continues to evolve, ongoing research may provide more insights into its relationship with tinnitus and other auditory symptoms. Staying informed about these developments can help individuals better manage their tinnitus in the context of the ongoing pandemic.

Treat Your Tinnitus : Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center: Otolaryngology

Tinnitus is a common (but frustrating) problem many people struggle with; however, most are unaware that there are treatment options available to reduce the ringing and bring back the sweet sound of silence. Dr. Franklyn Gergits and his team at Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center are experts on all things ears, nose, and throat and can help you find peace and comfort in your hearing again.

Tinnitus occurs when you hear or have the sensation of sound when no external sound is present. What most don’t understand about their tinnitus is that it is a symptom and not a condition itself. Many conditions can cause tinnitus, like age-related hearing loss and exposure to loud noises. You may also have a medical condition causing your tinnitus, including:

• Injury to the head or neck
• Dysfunction in the eustachian tube
• Spams in the muscles of your inner ear
• Meniere’s disease — a disease in the middle ear that can cause dizziness and hearing loss
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Acoustic neuroma
• Some blood vessel disorders

Regardless of the cause of your tinnitus, your symptoms will most likely be the hallmark ringing, buzzing, and humming sound in one or both ears. In fact, the key to receiving the best care for your tinnitus is to identify exactly what type of sound you are hearing.

Clicking

If you’re experiencing a clicking noise, you may have issues with muscle contractions.

Rushing or humming

Rushing and/or humming sounds are typically signs of a vascular issue and may often be heard when changing positions, like going from a seated to a standing position.

Heartbeat

Sometimes, the noise in your ears could sound like your own heartbeat. This could mean you have a blockage in your ear canal, or it could mean you have blood vessel problems like high blood pressure.

Low-pitched ringing

A low-pitched ringing is usually a sign of Menier’s disease.

High-pitched ringing

On the other hand, high-pitched ringing is typically indicative of damage or injury to the ear most likely from a loud noise. This ringing may subside but could be permanent.

Besides the frustrating, constant sound in your ears, tinnitus can affect other areas of your life, including:

• Increased fatigue and stress
• Trouble sleeping and/or concentrating
• Issues with memory loss
• Depression, anxiety, and/or irritability

Most often, tinnitus is a common, simply treated symptom; however, it can also be a sign of other health complications. Warning signs for a more serious cause of tinnitus can be:

• Developing tinnitus immediately after a respiratory infection without improvement within a week
• Having tinnitus that interferes with your daily life and activities
• Suddenly developing tinnitus without cause
• Experiencing hearing loss or dizziness

It is important that you make an appointment with Dr. Gergits and our team as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.

At the very least, tinnitus is annoying. At its worst, it can be totally debilitating. No matter how severe your tinnitus is, there are many ways to treat it.

A few treatment options for at-home-care include:

• Knowing what triggers your tinnitus and avoiding it
• Quitting smoking
• Adding soft, ambient noise to mask the irritating ringing
• Setting aside time to relax every day
• Making sleep and exercise a priority
• Protect your hearing

All of these are excellent ways to treat your tinnitus at home, but sometimes, the best way to live with tinnitus is to simply try to ignore it.

If your tinnitus requires medical attention, Dr. Gergits will conduct a full examination of your ear and the sounds you are hearing. After his examination and evaluation of your situation, he may suggest the following treatments:

Medication

Medication can address the underlying medical conditions causing your tinnitus or offer relief in the form of antidepressants.

Hearing aids or masking devices

Dr. Gergits may prescribe a hearing aid especially if you have experienced hearing loss. You may also benefit from a masking device, which is similar to a hearing aid. Instead of assisting in hearing loss, masking devices deliver a soothing sound to drown out the unwanted sound of tinnitus.

Other treatments include therapies, like Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and cognitive therapy, dental treatment, cochlear implants, and natural/herbal remedies

You can also take steps to prevent tinnitus by avoiding loud noises and protect your hearing at all times.

If you’re fed up with the noise in your ear and are desperate for relief, look no further than Dr. Gergits and the team at Sinus & Allergy Wellness. Their expertise and dedication to your care will bring you comfort, normalcy, and peace once again. Call today or schedule an appointment online.

Covid-19 may make people’s tinnitus worse

Rebecca Edgar, 29, struggles to hear her toddler when he talks to her from the backseat of her car. Most nights, she struggles to fall asleep, caught in a cycle of worry that the ringing in her ear is getting louder and recognizing that this very stress is worsening her symptoms.

“I’ve had a constant high-pitched buzzing in my ear for the past 20 years, but there is no doubt that this is the worst my tinnitus has ever been,” said Edgar, of Essex County in southeast England. “I’m deaf in one ear, and I’m so scared that catching Covid-19 could destroy what’s left of my hearing.”

Her fear may not be unfounded.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Tinnitus — a condition characterized by whooshing, ringing, buzzing and hissing noises in the ear — can be triggered by a variety of factors, including exposure to loud noises, inner ear damage and stress. And while experts say the stress of the pandemic could be linked to worsening tinnitus symptoms, there’s growing evidence that the virus itself could also play a role.

Related

A study published Thursday in the journal Frontiers in Public Health found that 40 percent of people who had symptoms of Covid-19 reported a worsening of their tinnitus. The research included more than 3,000 participants who self-reported whether they had experienced changes in their hearing since the pandemic started. Around 250 participants reported Covid-19 symptoms, although only 26 had tested positive for the virus.

In the roughly one-third of study participants who had tinnitus before the pandemic, “a combination of lifestyle, social and emotional factors during the pandemic” appears to have made it worse, said the study’s lead author, Eldre Beukes, a research fellow at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England.

The study also identified seven participants who said they first noticed changes in their hearing when they developed symptoms of Covid-19, suggesting that hearing damage could be a symptom of the illness for some people.

The cause is still unclear, but it’s not the first time Covid-19 has been linked to hearing problems.

A study published in the International Journal of Audiology in July found that nearly 15 percent of 138 hospitalized Covid-19 patients reported impaired hearing eight weeks after being discharged. The majority of the patients didn’t report having had hearing issues before their Covid-19 diagnoses. And a case report published in The BMJ, a British medical journal, described a man in the U.K. who lost his hearing when he was hospitalized with severe Covid-19.

“A lot of viruses do affect the ear, so it is possible that being infected with the SARS-Cov-2 virus did cause tinnitus in some people,” said Beukes, referring to the virus that causes Covid-19. “However, people who go through really stressful periods can also develop tinnitus as a result of that stress.”

Indeed, research has long linked excessive stress with tinnitus symptoms. Beukes’ study found that nearly one-third of people reported stressors, including fear of getting Covid-19, financial worries, loneliness and trouble sleeping, as factors that made their tinnitus worse.

Still, other experts say stress alone can’t explain all new or worsening cases of tinnitus during the pandemic.

Damage to tiny blood vessels

Although SARS-Cov-2 is a respiratory virus, what has struck scientists, doctors and patients alike is the range of symptoms — unrelated to the respiratory system — that it can cause.

One of those symptoms is loss of smell, and according to Dr. Matthew Stewart, an associate professor of otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, the same mechanisms behind that strange symptom may also contribute to hearing loss.

When people are infected with the coronavirus, the body floods the bloodstream with platelet-making cells that usually reside in bone marrow, said Stewart, who wasn’t involved with the new study. The cells, which are larger than most blood cells, can get stuck in the tiny blood vessels of the nose. The blockages, as well as blood clots — another complication of Covid-19 — can lead to loss of nerve function in the nose, which may explain why loss of smell is a common symptom of Covid-19, he said.

Related

“The same thing can happen in the tiny blood vessels in the ears,” Stewart said. “Just as the tissues that enable smell are damaged by Covid-19, we worry that tissues in the ear are affected, as well, and that this damage could last after the virus is gone.”

Stewart’s own research has found evidence of the virus in the inner ear. In a study published in July in the Journal of the American Medical Association, he described autopsies on three patients who died of Covid-19 and had detectable virus in the middle ear and the mastoid bone in the skull, which is also part of the ear.

Unintended consequences

Another theory is that rather than being caused by the virus itself, hearing damage could be an unintended consequence of the body’s immune system response, which can cause the body to attack its own organs while trying to fight off invaders, said Kevin Munro, director of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness in England.

“Tinnitus is sometimes the first sign of damage to the ear,” said Munro, who also wasn’t involved with the new study.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

More research is still needed to determine whether tinnitus is a true Covid-19 symptom or a consequence of stress. Munro will soon begin a study that aims to better understand whether the virus directly affects the mechanisms that allow humans to hear. He also hopes to determine why some people with Covid-19 have tinnitus and others don’t and which underlying conditions may be at play.

“The number of patients with tinnitus right now are quite high, and the people presenting might need additional support,” Munro said. “We need to take them seriously, and the next thing is understanding whether or not the ear damage is psychological so we can properly treat them.”

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Ear Sounds – Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

The ear canal is lined with tiny hairs (cilia) that sense movement and vibration conveyed to the brain as sound. When stimulated, regardless of cause, these cilia communicate sound signals. Ear sounds may occur when these cells in your ear that respond to sound waves malfunction and transmit electrical impulses that your brain misinterprets as sound.

Ear sounds can be idiopathic, which means that they have no known cause. Alternatively, they may result from various causes, including underlying ear infections, earwax accumulation, medications, foreign objects in the ear, allergies, high blood pressure, anemia, or Meniere’s disease (swelling in part of the inner ear canal, causing dizziness and hearing loss).

Common causes of ear sounds

Ear sounds may result from a number of causes including:

• Acoustic neuroma (benign tumor of the vestibulocochlear nerve)

• Blood vessel disorders (vascular malformations)

• Ear infections

• Ear wax buildup

• Eustachian tube obstruction

• Exposure to loud noises

• Hearing aids

• Meniere’s disease (swelling in part of the inner ear canal, causing dizziness and hearing loss)

• Otosclerosis (hardening of the bones in the ear)

• Stress

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain

• Thyroid disease

• Trauma

Medications that can cause ear sounds

Certain drugs may lead to ear sounds as a side effect including:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Antimalaria drugs
• Aspirin (high doses)
• Cancer medications

Serious or life-threatening causes of ear sounds

In rare cases, ear sounds may be caused by serious or potentially life-threatening conditions including:

Questions for diagnosing the cause of ear sounds

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to the ear sounds including:

• When did the sounds start? How long have you had them?

• Do you hear the sounds in one or both ears?

• Have you recently flown in an airplane, gone scuba diving, or done anything else that exposed you to sudden pressure changes?

• Have you been exposed to loud noises, such as music, fireworks, or construction work?

• Do you have any other symptoms?

• What medications are you taking?

What are the potential complications of ear sounds?

Left untreated, ear sounds can interfere with and potentially diminish your quality of life. The noise can disrupt sleep and work and cause you undue stress, anxiety and depression. In addition, ear sounds may be a symptom of a serious condition, such as head injury or brain tumor, which may lead to serious, even life-threatening complications. Once the underlying cause of the sounds is diagnosed, it is important to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care provider design specifically for you. Complications of untreated ear sounds or their underlying causes, such as head trauma or blood vessel diseases, include:

• Brain damage
• Difficulty performing daily tasks
• Difficulty sleeping
• Mood changes, such as anxiety, depression and stress
• Spread of cancer
• Spread of infection

Pops, Crackles, Whooshes, Ringing & More

Of all the noises we hear on a daily basis, mysterious snaps, crackles, pops, and whooshes can make you feel as though there might be a reason to panic. The truth is that odd, unusual, and just plain weird ear noises are fairly common. Though most are temporary, it’s a good idea to see your audiologist or healthcare provider if you’re in pain or your symptoms get worse over time instead of better. Here are some of the most common ear noises explained:

Popping and Crackling Noise in Your Ear

Is your ear popping when you’re chewing? Is there a crackling sound in your ear? A common condition known as Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) is most likely the source of crackling, popping, or clicking in your ears. Sometimes there’s crackling in your ear with no pain, and sometimes there can be quite a bit of pain. There is a thin tube that runs from your middle ear (the space behind your eardrum) to the back of your throat called the Eustachian tube. Swallowing, blowing your nose, and yawning open this tube, and allow air to pass from your middle ear to the back of your nose. It can become blocked by things like mucus when you have allergies or a common cold-causing crackling in your ear.

This blockage leads to a build-up of pressure, which in turn causes an unusual crackling or popping noise in your ear, and sometimes it may even cause temporary deafness. This deafness is a result of the eardrum becoming stiffer when there is an increase of pressure, and so it’s unable to move properly when sound waves hit it. Luckily, ETD can usually be treated with over the counter nasal decongestants, antihistamines, and sprays. You may also want to try to pop your ears with a forced exhalation while pinching your nostrils and closing your mouth. If your symptoms continue, your doctor may prescribe a longer-term nasal steroid spray.

Ringing and Buzzing Ear Sounds

Excess earwax is an annoying problem for over 12 million people throughout the US. It can cause itchiness, earaches, and some pretty strange sounding noises in your ear. If the excess wax builds up and touches the eardrum it affects how the eardrum vibrates – this then causes a form of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the sensation of ringing, buzzing, or whistling in your ears, and can be treated by having the excess wax removed by a doctor or healthcare provider.

It is important to remember not to ever put anything inside your ears when trying to clean out earwax. Using cotton swabs and other objects to try to clear your ears can push the earwax even further down into your ear canal, and ultimately make the problem even worse by compacting it.

Thumping, Pulsing, and Whooshing Ear Sounds

Are you experiencing a rhythmic pulsing or thumping in your ear? Does it sound like your heartbeat is beating in your ear? You may have a form of tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus. This causes a sort of rhythmic thumping, pulsing, whooshing, or fluttering in your ear that only you can hear, and that is often in time with your own heartbeat. Unlike most types of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus has a physical source of sound your ears happen to pick up on. Most of the time it occurs in only one ear, but some people do hear it in both. The most common causes of pulsatile tinnitus are:

• • Strenuous exercise
  • Conductive hearing loss
  • Stress
  • Poor circulation
  • Thyroid disease
  • Anemia

Most of the time, pulsatile tinnitus is nothing to be overly concerned about. If it doesn’t go away on its own after a few weeks or gets worse, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider to talk about it. It is easy for a hearing specialist to recognize and diagnose because when they listen in on your ears they will hear the same pulsing sound that you do.

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Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)

Do you have ringing in your ears?

This is called tinnitus.

How old are you?

3 years or younger

3 years or younger

4 to 11 years

4 to 11 years

12 years or older

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

No

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

No

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

No

Tinnitus began suddenly

Is the ringing only in one ear?

Yes

Tinnitus is in only one ear

No

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

No

Medicine may be causing symptoms

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

Yes

Ear symptoms for more than 1 week

No

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.

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

When Should You See An Audiologist About Tinnitus?

Posted: Friday, October 12, 2018

By: Sara Young, AuD, CCC-A

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ear where there is no external sound present.   It is a very common condition that often presents itself as a ringing sound; but can also be perceived as buzzing, roaring, whooshing, or sound like your heartbeat.  Tinnitus can be in one or both ears and can be constant or intermittent. Many people experience tinnitus but do not pay any attention to it while others are extremely bothered. 

Tinnitus isn’t a condition itself; it is a symptom of an underlying condition. These conditions include but are not limited to age related hearing loss, loud noise exposure, buildup of earwax, head or neck injuries, and TMJ disorders. In rare cases tinnitus is caused by a blood vessel disorder.

There are medications that can cause or worsen tinnitus; some the medications on the list include some antibiotics, cancer medications, diuretics, aspirin, and some antidepressants.

Tinnitus can be experienced by anyone and is often out of a person’s control, but some things may increase the likelihood. These include exposure to loud noise, smoking, and cardiovascular problems. To help prevent tinnitus use hearing protection, turn down the volume of your music, and take care of your heart!

It is important to find out the underlying condition causing your tinnitus. If you experience the following tinnitus symptoms, you should see an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) and audiologist:

• When the tinnitus is only in one ear
• When the sound is affecting your quality of life
• When the sound starts suddenly or changes in volume or duration
• When the sound is accompanied with hearing loss or dizziness
• When it sounds like your heartbeat.

Dr. Sara Young sees patients in our Chapel Hill and North Durham offices. Call 919-595-2000 to schedule an appointment today.

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Superior Canal Dehiscence Clinical Presentation: History, Physical, Causes

Author

Wayne T Shaia, MD Director, The Balance and Ear Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jack M Kartush, MD Clinical Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University School of Medicine; Professor Emeritus, Michigan Ear Institute at Providence Hospital; Clinical Professor, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Jack M Kartush, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Gerard J Gianoli, MD Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine; President, The Ear and Balance Institute; Board of Directors, Ponchartrain Surgery Center

Gerard J Gianoli, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons, Triological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA Professor of Otolaryngology, Dentistry, and Engineering, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Cerescan;Cliexa, eMedevents, Neosoma, MI10<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: , Cliexa;;Neosoma<br/> Received stock from RxRevu; Received ownership interest from Cerescan for consulting; for: Neosoma, eMedevents, MI10.

Additional Contributors

Robert A Battista, MD, FACS Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine; Physician, Ear Institute of Chicago, LLC

Robert A Battista, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Illinois State Medical Society, American Neurotology Society, American College of Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Angela Shu-Yuen Peng, MD Resident Physician, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Angela Shu-Yuen Peng, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Medical Association, and Virginia Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

90,000 main reasons. Helpful information. LLC “Rehabilitation center” SPECTR “

E If we talk about the symptoms of the disease, it should be noted that the whistle often does not sound the same sound, but goes from high frequencies to lower ones, reborn into a hiss, buzz, squeak or hum. Sometimes it makes itself felt with a pulsation that coincides or, conversely, sounds out of tune with the rhythm of the heart. Sound is often accompanied by complete or partial temporary hearing loss.

Sometimes there is a feeling that the auditory canal, like the ears themselves, is completely clogged with something, and the person feels as if he is in a vacuum.In addition, the constant whistling in the ears can lead to insomnia, decreased performance, and hearing loss.

Doctors name the following reasons for the appearance of whistling in the ears:

Age-related changes, during which cells gradually begin to die off, which are responsible for recognizing sounds.

Inflammatory processes in the outer, middle or inner ear.

Injury to the skull, ear, cervical spine.

Rupture of the tympanic membrane.

Wearing the hearing aid (sound can cause any malfunction and damage to the device).

Loud music, especially if a person is near a sound source or listens with headphones with the player turned on at full power.

A constant load on the organ of hearing often leads to hearing loss and even deafness.

Sulfur plug or foreign object in the ear (must be removed by a doctor).

Otosclerosis, in which there is an overgrowth of bone tissue in the middle and inner ear, which leads to deafness.

Increased pressure.

Malignant or benign tumors in the organ of hearing, brain or in the region of the skull.

Whistling, squeaking, ringing often accompany Meniere’s disease, which causes disruption of the vestibular apparatus located in the inner ear.

The disease is characterized by the fact that an increased amount of fluid (endolymph) begins to be produced in the inner ear, which begins to press on the cells, which are responsible for the position of the body in space.

This leads to disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus, which can manifest themselves in different ways: in some cases a person feels only slight dizziness, in others he cannot even sit.The disease almost does not lend itself to treatment, but sometimes it goes away on its own.

It can provoke the appearance of a whistling cervical osteochondrosis, in which the vertebral discs are displaced and squeezed the arteries passing through them, which leads to impaired blood flow. Nerve fibers are also compressed, to which the nervous system reacts with various manifestations, including the appearance of tinnitus. Osteochondrosis cannot be completely treated, but its manifestations can be reduced by doing special exercises and adhering to a diet.

Whistling in the ear can occur when hormonal disruptions in the body, for example, with diabetes mellitus, when the pancreas stops producing insulin, or when the thyroid gland is malfunctioning, due to which the body begins to lack iodine-containing hormones and calcitonin. Treatment of the pancreas, thyroid gland and other organs that produce hormones should be started immediately, as soon as malfunctions in their work were discovered.

Failure to do so could result in serious health problems that could very well be fatal.A whistling sound can be a symptom of an allergic reaction to food, medicine, tissue, or other irritants. If it is not possible to determine the cause, it will be necessary to pass a special analysis.

Ear Noise | Centrum Słuchu i Mowy MEDINCUS

What is tinnitus and why does it occur?

These are sounds that we hear in one ear, in both ears or in the head, and sometimes in the ears and in the head at the same time. People with tinnitus describe it in different ways: as a squeak, ringing, knocking, hum, rustling, whistling, hiss.Regardless of the nature and type of sound, they are all called tinnitus.

Nearly all of us experience occasional ringing in our ears. This phenomenon occurs especially often in silence. There is such a saying “so quietly that even in my ears it rings.” Such short-term, passing sounds should not cause concern and do not require medical advice.

How does tinnitus occur?

Tinnitus is associated with abnormalities in the auditory analyzer and is the result of changes in activity in the fibers of the auditory nerve, most often as a result of changes in the inner ear.In most cases, it is believed that irreversible damage to the outer hair cells of the cochlea is the source of tinnitus. Simply put, the activity in the pathway of the auditory analyzer changes.

Why are we concerned about tinnitus?

For some people, the appearance of extraneous sound in the ears, even the quietest, is a serious problem that interferes with a normal life, while for other people, ear noise does not interfere at all. This indicates that the degree of irritation is determined not by the place of origin and characteristics of the noise, but by the consequences that the signal causes in the human nervous system.

Most often, tinnitus is a subjective sensation of the patient. This means that no one around you can hear this sound. Hence the misunderstanding of the patient’s problem by others.

Is tinnitus a disease and a threat?

Tinnitus is not a disease, but only a symptom of various changes in the inner ear. To find out the cause of tinnitus, an audiological diagnosis should be carried out in order to exclude organic pathologies that require a doctor’s surgical intervention. In addition to the fact that tinnitus is not a disease, it often leads to nervous tension, anxiety, unexplained fears, discomfort, often causes depression, so tinnitus must be treated.

There are many causes of tinnitus and it is extremely difficult to make a correct diagnosis. To identify the cause of the disease, you will need to undergo a thorough diagnosis. The doctor interviews the patient in detail and conducts an otorhinolaryngological examination.Important information is whether the noise occurs constantly or intermittently, whether it appeared suddenly, from one or both sides, what character, frequency and loudness it has. The next step will be to conduct audiological examinations. Some patients with tinnitus may have hearing loss. In some cases, it will be necessary to carry out additional examinations to make a correct diagnosis, for example, angiography of the cerebral vessels, computed tomography of the brain, magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound examination of the carotid and vertebral arteries to assess the presence and direction of flow within the vessels.

How is tinnitus treated?

To date, there is no single treatment that is appropriate and effective for all types of tinnitus. How tinnitus is treated depends on the cause and location of the noise. Tinnitus can occur at any level in the auditory analyzer pathway, from the external auditory canal to the auditory cortex. Treatments for tinnitus depend on what caused the tinnitus, such as tinnitus caused by auditory tube dysfunction or otosclerosis, is treated differently than tinnitus caused by years of work in noisy environments.Tinnitus does not appear for no reason. Noise is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of various pathological conditions. Ear noise is always a signal that something in the body is not functioning properly.

In the case when tinnitus becomes unbearable, leads to depression and an inexplicable feeling of fear, it is worth seeking help from a psychiatrist.

90,000 Tinnitus, what to do? On the causes and treatment of ringing in the ears

Complaints about ringing and buzzing in the ears are an ambiguous and complex (in terms of the number of possible causes of it) medical problem.But the first step in solving it may be the elimination of unnecessary and unreasonable treatments.

Ringing, crackling, chirping of grasshoppers, murmur of water, pulsation – these and other epithets are used to reward their complaints by patients who have encountered a phenomenon called ear noise. All adults have heard it at least once in their lives, and sometimes even small children complain of ringing in their ears. This unpleasant phenomenon has a functional character and accompanies stressful situations – heavy physical exertion, water procedures, flying and other sports, and more.Fortunately, most of the complaints are temporary, short-term. And it passes without consequences.
But for some people, tinnitus is one of the biggest problems. He accompanies them practically around the clock. It intensifies in silence, does not allow you to relax and fall asleep, cause a prolonged feeling of anxiety. It can lead to an exacerbation of neurological and general diseases, including depression, hypertension, heart rhythm disturbances.

Prolonged, incessant tinnitus may be objective in nature, i.e.e. to communicate with diseases of the head, neck, blood vessels. The objective nature of this phenomenon can be identified using modern diagnostic methods, such as MRI and CT of cerebral vessels, functional radiography of the spine, and others. These types of noise are usually pulsating in nature. And they coincide in rhythm with the heart rate. Treatment of the underlying disease by a neurologist, cardiologist, neurosurgeon, orthopedist, chiropractor and other specialists, as a rule, leads to a positive result.

In children and adults, “noise in the ears” for a long time can be associated with the development of inflammatory purulent and non-suppurative diseases of the middle ear. The sensation of “moving fluid”, a background hum reminiscent of the sound of electrical wires or a transformer, disappears after treatment for ENT disease. And as the airiness of the tympanic cavity is restored. Tympanometry diagnostics can provide invaluable service.

It often happens that tinnitus is caused by complex mechanisms of disturbance in the processes of regulation of excitation and inhibition in the nerve cells of different parts of the auditory analyzer.It can be both the cochlea of ​​the inner ear and the auditory nerve, brainstem and cortical regions of the brain.

Other reasons are much less common. In particular, diseases of the central nervous system. In this case, a spontaneous contraction of the muscles of the middle ear occurs as a result of an irritating effect on the facial nerve. To identify the causes of such a disease, specialized high-resolution CT methods, functional methods of studying the brain and cranial nerves, etc. will help.Accordingly, the scope of treatment is determined based on the results obtained.

The most controversial and complex in its diversity problem is presented by biased ear noises. Until now, the reason for most of them has not been fully established. For years people go from one specialist to another, hoping for help. Doctors sort out all the methods of conservative and physiotherapy known to them. The appointments are mostly empirical. By trial and error, neurologists, psychoneurologists, therapists are looking for a panacea for the patient’s complaints.They seek, but for the most part, they do not find!
The bad news is that many well-intentioned medications are not only useless, but can cause side effects. Or even exacerbate the manifestations of ringing in the ears.
The insidiousness of the condition lies in the fact that in many patients, whistling or pulsation in the ears is a precursor to the development of hearing loss. Without determining the causes of the underlying disease, without treatment, she will relentlessly follow complaints of extraneous sounds. And over time – to progress.

What to do?

1. for prolonged or recurring episodes of tinnitus, consult an otolaryngologist. Examination will identify or exclude conditions that contribute to the appearance of otitis media;
2. check the functional state of the middle ear, including the determination of the parameters of the auditory tube. These results can be obtained using the tympanometry method. Contact clinics that are equipped with the appropriate equipment;
3. , both ears must be tested.For this purpose, in children of the first years of life, the method of registration of otoacoustic emission (OAE) is used. Children over two years old and adults are prescribed tone threshold audiometry;
4. suspicion of diseases of the auditory nerve and central nervous system will require the determination of the parameters of acoustic reflexes in the middle ear, auditory evoked potentials;
5. diseases of the inner ear, including those accompanied by attacks of ear noise and dizziness, require clarification using clinical methods for recording otoacoustic emissions (SOAE, PIOAE, TEOAE) in both children and adults, as well as the involvement of an otoneurologist to assess the status of the vestibular and hearing aid labyrinth of the inner ear;

Modern technologies for diagnosing the state of all parts of the auditory analyzer make it possible to study the work of the outer, middle, inner ear and auditory nerve as accurately as possible.Research will suggest a way to solve the problem. The elimination of unreasonable, unnecessary or side-effect treatments provides an opportunity to improve the quality of care. Therefore, the main recommendation for those who suffer from tinnitus is a timely consultation with an audiologist.

Tinnitus. Current state of the problem. – Signia

Olga Vladimirovna Zaitseva, Candidate of Medical Sciences, talks about the problem of tinnitus (tinnitus).

Article author:

Olga Vladimirovna Zaitseva, Candidate of Medical Sciences
FSBI NCC Otorhinolaryngology FMBA of Russia, Moscow
Keywords: tinnitus, tinnitus, tinnitus, treatment, rehabilitation
Contact information about the author for correspondence: [email protected]

“Tinnitus – 1 symptom and 1000 reasons.”

This is how the website of the German Tinnitus League welcomes its visitors. Tinnitus (from Latin tinnitus “ringing” – subjective tinnitus) can come and go or be continuous.May sound like a turbine roar (low frequency noise) or a mosquito squeak (high pitched sound). Tinnitus can be unilateral or bilateral. Can be barely discernible in silence or intrusively and every second intrude into life. Despite the variety of characteristics, tinnitus is a common problem for millions of patients, doctors, neurophysiologists, and other specialists. Ear noise is constantly accompanied by about 8% of the adult population of the Earth [1-5].
According to the German Tinnitus League (Deutschen Tinnitus-Liga), more than three million people in Germany suffer from ear noise, and this number increases by 250 thousand every year [6].Tinnitus is a daily problem in nearly 36 million North Americans, about 1% of the citizens of the United States of America (USA) have been treated for tinnitus, and more than half of the US adult population experience intermittent tinnitus [7].
According to the results of epidemiological studies carried out in 1999 by order of the German Tinnitus League [6], 22% of the respondents named noise at the workplace as the cause of tinnitus, 7.4% – noise during leisure time. Moreover, in more than 55% of all cases, the latter named music, concerts, discos, noise in pubs and other sound events.15% believed that the cause of their illness lay in street noise, another 8% complained about construction, factory and machine noise, and 7.1% – about the noise “made” by children. Almost 25% of those surveyed suffered from noise trauma. Among the reasons, they named aircraft noise, the noise of gunfire (for example, during a hunt) and other acoustic events. 65% of those surveyed were able to accurately describe the mechanism of their tinnitus, and 31% could not explain it. 26.4% named stress as a “triggering mechanism”, and the first place was given to stress associated with occupational stress (54.2%).To this should be added stress at home or family and mental stress (37% in total).
In a survey of 2000 people aged 50 and over, 30.3% reported that they felt tinnitus, of which 48% – in both ears. In half of the patients, tinnitus occurred at least 6 years before the survey, and the majority (55%) reported a gradual onset of suffering. 67% of the respondents considered the intensity of the ringing in their ears to be moderate to very annoying [8]. Seven million Americans believe their tinnitus is so severe that they cannot lead a normal life [9].
The cause of subjective noise can be a pathological condition of the outer, middle or inner ear, changes in various parts of the autonomic nervous system [10].
Tinnitus can accompany diseases of a number of organs and systems: hypertension, neurocirculatory dystonia, blood and endocrine system diseases, infections, intoxication, cerebral atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, pathology of the temporomandibular joint, brain tumors [11] requires a comprehensive and sometimes lengthy examination of patients.
Reed G. [12] divides tinnitus sufferers into two categories depending on the form of presentation of complaints, behavior of patients during a conversation with a doctor and on their own assessment of pathological auditory sensations: 1 – normal, balanced, well-adjusted personality, 2 – tense , easily excitable, “nervous” personality.
IB Soldatov [13], depending on the tolerance of noise, singled out the following degrees of it:
I degree – transferred calmly, does not affect the general condition;
II degree – annoying in silence, at night, disturbing sleep;
III degree – constantly worried, disturbing sleep and mood;
IV degree – unbearable noise that deprives you of sleep and reduces your ability to work.
Nervous strain caused by constant noise and the inability to enjoy silence leads to insomnia, anxiety, depression, irritability and impaired concentration [14]. Several studies have confirmed the link between psychological experiences such as anxiety, depression and tinnitus [15]. According to Winfried R. et al. [16] long-term subjective tinnitus arises as a result of the formation of a pathological “vicious circle”, which is formed in the central and subcortical structures of the brain due to discoordination of information centers in the absence of a real sound source.Noise in the head, even in very balanced people, over time can cause disorders of the nervous system [14]. In emotionally labile patients, the occurrence or intensification of noise during excitement, stress, when all their attention is constantly concentrated on the noise, in itself leads to increased discomfort [16].
Due to the fact that there is still no cure for tinnitus, the treatment of patients with tinnitus is controversial, both among professionals and among patients with tinnitus.When choosing a therapy, it is necessary to take into account: the timing of the onset of the disease; possibly a causal factor; the degree of impairment of auditory function; negative experience with previous treatment; psychological testing data [14].
Conservative methods for treating ear noise include: drug therapy, physical methods, reflexology, hearing aids, audiomaskers, psychotherapeutic sessions. Based on the above, the authors’ recommendations to include various psychotherapy options in the treatment regimen for patients with tinnitus are understandable.Thus, the so-called retraining therapy for tinnitus, built in the cognitive-behavioral tradition, is gaining popularity. Therapy includes both drug correction and informing patients about the phenomenon of tinnitus, the patient’s attitude to “getting used to the perception” of noise, its adequate assessment, behavioral analysis and relaxation training in combination with various cognitive strategies. The result of the therapy is a significant reduction in “tinnitus discomfort” and an improvement in “general mood”.The achieved effects persisted for three months after the end of the therapeutic course [17].
Analysis of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and meditation in the treatment of patients with chronic tinnitus revealed a statistically significant reduction in tinnitus [18]. In their self-reports, patients noted the overall positive effect of treatment, in the form of increased activity, decreased tension, decreased headache, dizziness, muscle tension and normalization of sleep. In another study, tinnitus showed improvement in well-being for 12 months with cognitive behavioral therapy [19].Patients noted an improvement in mood and a decrease in anxiety. Age and psychosocial stress levels negatively influenced treatment outcomes.
Currently, the world is dominated by the trend of treating patients with tinnitus according to the model developed by P. Jastreboff [20, 21]. The treatment method based on this model is called TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy). TRT is a technique for treating tinnitus with noise maskers. The noise generated by the masker (“white noise”) is assessed in the subcortical auditory canals as a neutral sound of no significance.Immediately, his perception is blocked, and he does not reach the cortical level and does not cause a sensation of noise. At the same time, the noise that bothers the patient also loses its significance, and the patient ceases to consciously perceive it. Physicists call “white noise” sound, the spectral components of which are evenly distributed over the entire range of frequencies involved (the most typical example of “white noise” is the sound of falling water). “White noise” is not universal, but is selected individually for each patient after noise measurement.In addition, psychotherapy is included in the noise treatment methodology, which allows the patient not to focus on the disturbing noise.
A number of authors indicate the effectiveness of anti-anxiety drugs, tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine (SSRIs) in the treatment of tinnitus [22-24]. It should be remembered that tinnitus can be a side effect of the use of tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Nevertheless, the results of most studies on benzodiazepines indicate a leveling out of tinnitus by the fourth week of treatment [25-27].
In order to assess the effectiveness of treatment of patients with tinnitus, a retrospective study was carried out on 25 women and 31 men aged 18 to 42 years. In 19 (34%) of 56 people, tinnitus was bilateral. Hearing tests (audiometry in an extended frequency range, tympanometry (including ETF test (Eustachian Tube Function) – a test to assess the function of the Eustachian (auditory) tube) in all patients corresponded to the age norm. The duration of the disease varied from 10 years to 2 weeks …The overwhelming majority (43 (76.8%) of people) believed that the cause of tinnitus was a psycho-traumatic situation of varying intensity and duration. When performing noise measurement, it was noted that much more often (52 (69.3%) ears out of 75 – the number of “examined ears” exceeded the total number of patients, since in 19 (34%) cases the suffering was bilateral) high-frequency ( 2-6 kHz) ear noise, the volume of which varied from 15 to 45 dB. All patients underwent Doppler ultrasound (USDG) / duplex scanning of the vessels of the vertebrobasilar basin (which revealed minor disorders of the venous outflow in the vertebrobasilar vascular system in 10 patients), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the internal auditory canals and pontocerebellar angles, general the results of which were within the reference values.All patients denied the presence of concomitant somatic diseases at the time of the initial visit. In addition, all patients were asked to answer 12 questions of the mini tinnitus questionnaire. The results of self-assessment of ear noise were distributed as follows: mild (I) – 7 (12.5%), moderate (II) – 41 (73.2%), severe (III) – 8 (14.3%) people …
All patients received treatment: choline alfoscerate 1200 mg / day. (inside 1 capsule (400 mg) three times a day), vitamins B1 and B6 100 mg / day.(in the form of a combined preparation) – within 3 months. All patients were recommended daily autogenic training, if necessary, the use of a tinnitus masker (in the form of an ear canal insert or a computer program installed on any computer).
In addition, 8 patients (14.3%) with a severe degree and 5 patients (9%) with an average degree of tinnitus and severe emotional lability and sleep disorders were treated by a psychotherapist, which included, among other things, drug correction of psycho-emotional spheres (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SIOZSiN)) (group 1).
7 patients (12.5%) with mild ear noise (disease duration within 1 month) (group 2) and 26 (46.4%) – with moderate chronic tinnitus (group 3) received additional ginkgo biloba extract ( EGb 761) 120 mg / day. within 3 months.
Another 10 patients (17.8%) with moderate tinnitus and minor symptoms of impaired venous outflow in the vertebrobasilar vascular system (group 4) underwent hirudotherapy (1-2 times a week, 7-10 sessions in total).
The division of patients into groups was explained by a number of factors. Thus, 13 patients (23.3%) of the 1st group required the consultation of a psychotherapist in connection with sleep disorders and severe emotional lability, manifested, in particular, by tearfulness.
7 patients (12.5%) with mild tinnitus and disease duration within 1 month (group 2) and 26 patients (46.4%) with moderate chronic tinnitus (group 3) who received similar treatment, could not be combined into one group due to the different age of the disease and the intensity of the ear noise.
10 patients (17.8%) 4 groups with moderate tinnitus required correction of mild disorders of venous outflow in the vertebrobasilar vascular system. For this purpose, hirudotherapy was recommended to patients. The frequency and number of sessions were determined individually by the hirudotherapist.
The results of a 3-month course of treatment can be characterized as follows:
1. The best results according to repeated testing using the tinnitus questionnaire were shown by patients of the 1st (the most severe at the initial examination) group.However, when carrying out control noise measurement, the results were assessed as “the most modest” – the attenuation of the intensity of the ear noise did not exceed 25%, which can be explained by the longest duration of the disease and the significant severity of the initial state.
2. All patients of the 2nd group (initially mild tinnitus) – at the end of the course of treatment considered themselves completely healthy.
3. Patients of the 3rd group, who received ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), noted the recovery of the emotional background.The intensity of ear noise in 19 (73%) of 26 patients decreased by more than 50% (according to the results of a repeated tinnitus survey, the patient’s condition was assessed as mild ear noise), in 7 (27%) patients the ear noise was completely leveled.
4. Ear noise in 9 out of 10 patients of the 4th group reduced the intensity by an average of one third. According to the results of the repeated tinnitus survey, the condition of 9 patients was assessed as mild tinnitus. One patient stopped treatment after the 3rd session of hirudotherapy, explaining this by the complete disappearance of the ear noise, however, after 17 days, there was a short-term, transient resumption of tinnitus in response to psycho-emotional overstrain.The patient was recommended to consult a psychotherapist.
No adverse events were noted in any of the patients.
The results obtained indicate that a differentiated approach, including the correction of the mental status of patients even in cases of chronic tinnitus that has existed for years, contributes to a noticeable improvement in the quality of life, even with insignificant dynamics of the physical characteristics of ear noise.
Thus, only a thorough, individual and comprehensive approach, both in diagnosis and in determining treatment tactics, combined with a deep understanding of the problem, can be the key to success in tinnitus.

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90,000 Which doctor should I contact when ringing in the ear

Laura (otolaryngologists) Moscow – latest reviews

A polite, competent doctor.The doctor performed an examination, identified the cause of my problem, and washed my ear. Sent for the necessary tests. Gave detailed recommendations. I was pleased with the reception. Now I know in which direction to go to solve my disease.

Elena,

August 17, 2021

An attentive, intelligent specialist, well done.I needed to look at the maxillary sinuses, this requires a picture, I did not take it, so the doctor did not write any conclusion. The doctor looked at me, gave recommendations, answered my questions. Everything went well, it was fine for me.

Igor,

August 15, 2021

Good lore.Attentive, empathetic. Addressed with sore throat. Oksana Mikhailovna listened to my complaints, conducted an examination, prescribed the necessary treatment, and made recommendations. I was pleased with the reception. Perhaps I will apply again, if necessary.

Arthur,

August 13, 2021

The doctor examined me at the reception, gave recommendations for treatment.Competent, polite, attentive doctor. explained everything clearly. The visit itself lasted about fifteen to twenty minutes. I would recommend this specialist to my friends. I was satisfied with the quality.

Alice,

August 11, 2021

Very attentive, thoughtful specialist, professional in his field.The doctor carried out diagnostics, wrote out prescriptions, gave recommendations, and also told in detail how to use the drugs. Plus, it was possible to pass a PCR test, the doctor explained in detail how to do this. Everything was fast, high quality. In general, we were satisfied, thank you very much.

Victoria,

August 14, 2021

In principle, everything went well.The doctor asked me questions, examined me and performed procedures. The doctor washed her ears and put the medicine in. A specialist prescribed treatment for me. A good doctor. Would reapply but the price is too high.

Svyatoslav,

August 13, 2021

At the reception, my ear was cured and the doctor gave me recommendations.I can say that the doctor is polite, attentive, did his job well, quickly and efficiently. I was pleased with the quality of the reception!

Alexei,

August 12, 2021

In general, I was satisfied with the reception.The doctor examined me, put medicine in my ear and prescribed special drops. The doctor explained everything clearly., Enough time at the reception was given.

Anastasia,

August 15, 2021

Everything went well.Very good doctor, but only high price for services. At the reception, Eduard Alekseevich gave appropriate recommendations for treatment, listens to patients.

Artem,

August 15, 2021

An attentive specialist.The doctor looked, gave recommendations. Everything that we needed, the doctor clearly explained, no more manipulations were required. We were very satisfied. Would recommend a doctor to friends.

Anna,

August 13, 2021

See all 10 reviews of 14,410 90,000 Tinnitus 90,001

Such a thing as “tinnitus” can manifest itself in different ways.It is also described as a hum, squeak, hiss or buzz. But in almost all cases, a person’s hearing decreases. These are signs of pathology in any part of the ear. If the auditory nerve is affected, then the disease develops very quickly or manifests itself suddenly. Sometimes tinnitus is accompanied by a disease of the vessels of the head and neck.

On examination, a doctor using a phonendoscope can only hear an objective pathological noise. It is not very often observed and can be caused by a contraction of the muscles of the pharynx or the Eustachian tube, changes in pressure in the tympanic cavity, pathologies of the temporomandibular joint, narrowing or expansion of the blood flow of the vessels.

But the subjective pathological noise is heard only by the patient. It is he who can signal pathological changes in the inner or middle ear and diseases of other organs. These are osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, cerebral atherosclerosis, low blood pressure, hypertension, tumors and inflammation of the brain, etc. Some forms of otitis media are also accompanied by tinnitus. In addition to noise sensations, there may be pain in the ear, dizziness, nausea, and discharge from the ear.

To get rid of all sorts of sounds in the ears, you need to find out the reason for its appearance.Most often, after its elimination, the noise disappears.

After a full examination by doctors, it may be enough to undergo a short course of anti-inflammatory drugs. If the problem is more serious, the intervention of a surgeon may be required. Medical treatment is most often accompanied by magnetotherapy and electrical stimulation. Full recovery will depend on timely referral to a specialist.

The appearance of tinnitus should alert any person.If it is repeated often enough, it can significantly worsen life. Since it leads to sleep disturbance, anxiety, distraction from the normal work process.

Even short-term noise manifestations in the ears cannot be ignored. This could be the onset of a more serious illness. And as you know, any ailment is easier to treat at its initial stage. In this case, serious hearing impairment can occur, and up to its complete loss.

Very often children complain of ringing in their ears.It has the same causes as in adults. You should not take these complaints lightly, but immediately consult a doctor.

90,000 Tinnitus (tinnitus) | NP

Tinnitus, as well as ringing, whistling, hum or hissing (collectively tinnitus ), have a profound impact on people’s lives.

Some get used to it, others fall into deep despair.

Tinnitus is almost always associated with hearing loss, and people who do not use hearing aids have difficulty communicating.

It is believed that hearing aids can help. 6 out of 10 patients report that they get some relief from wearing their hearing aids, and 1 in 5 gets rid of their tinnitus completely.

The use of Hearing Aids increases the ability to communicate, which reduces stress and allows for a more comfortable life. Tinnitus becomes less audible.

What causes tinnitus?

There are many possible causes of subjective tinnitus when the sound is heard only by the patient (for example, a small amount of earwax can temporarily cause tinnitus).

In addition, there may be more important causes such as inflammation of the middle ear, perforation of the tympanic membrane, accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, and hardening of the bone joints in the middle ear.

Tinnitus can also be caused by vasodilation in the head and neck (aneurysm) or a tumor originating from a nerve that provides balance and hearing (acoustic neuroma). These problems also include hearing loss.

Allergies, high or low blood pressure, swelling, diabetes, thyroid problems, strokes to the head and neck, diseases of the jaw joints, certain rheumatic drugs, certain antibiotics, sedatives, and aspirin can cause tinnitus.

Treatment is very different for each condition. For this reason, it is very important to consult with a doctor who specializes in your field to find out the true cause of tinnitus.

Tinnitus often develops from damage to the ends of the auditory nerves, which are small enough to be seen under a microscope. The fact that these nerve endings are intact ensures accurate and accurate hearing, and any damage to them can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.With age, some changes occur in the nerve endings that bring with it tinnitus.

Loud noise is one of the most common causes of tinnitus today and also causes hearing loss. Industrial noise, exposure to loud noises, and listening to loud music with stereo headphones can damage the inner ear and cause tinnitus.

Is tinnitus harmful to humans?

Tinnitus itself is not a disease, it is a symptom.Tinnitus does not directly harm a person, but the cause of tinnitus can be harmful. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate every patient with tinnitus and determine the cause. Regardless of the cause of tinnitus in some people, it has very serious psychological consequences.

How is tinnitus treated?

The first thing to do for a tinnitus patient is to identify the cause of the tinnitus using a detailed history, examination and tests.Thus, it is found out if there are any diseases that can cause the previously mentioned tinnitus.

This test may require a hearing test (audiometry) and an ear pressure test (tympanometry). In addition, otoacoustic emissions can be performed, which measures the function of hair cells in the inner ear, cochleography, which examines the presence of increased pressure in the inner ear, ABR test, which measures hearing-related electrical waves in the auditory nerve and brainstem, and balance tests.In addition, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered to view the structures of the ear.

If a problem can be found that explains the patient’s tinnitus, the condition should be treated. Thus, tinnitus can be reduced or disappeared. Depending on the cause of the tinnitus, this treatment may involve removing a plug or foreign body from the ear canal.

In addition to many other side effects of drugs used to treat various conditions, tinnitus can also be seen as a side effect, so changing or stopping the medication can help eliminate tinnitus.In addition to measures such as preventing noise-induced noise, treating ear inflammation or fluid in the middle ear cavity, surgical repair of the eardrum opening, surgical removal of ear bone inflammation, appropriate surgery for otosclerosis, surgery or radiation therapy for tumors auditory nerve. There can be extensive treatments.

Hearing loss can be found in a group of patients, although there is no reason for treatment.If these patients are rehabilitated with hearing aids, their hearing loss will be corrected and their tinnitus will improve.

Another group of patients has no problem to treat and no hearing loss to correct. These patients may be given some medications to improve blood circulation in the inner ear. However, the effectiveness of any drugs used in treatment does not exceed 50%.

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