What causes the ringing in your ears. How is tinnitus diagnosed. What treatments are available for tinnitus. Can tinnitus be prevented. How does tinnitus impact daily life. What research is being conducted on tinnitus. When should you see a doctor about tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus and How Common is it?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present. It’s often described as a ringing noise, but can also manifest as buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing or other sounds. Tinnitus affects approximately 1 in 10 adults each year, with about 20% of the population reporting some degree of tinnitus.

While many experience tinnitus as a minor annoyance, for others it can significantly impact quality of life, interfering with sleep and causing emotional distress. The severity and persistence of tinnitus varies widely between individuals.

Key Facts About Tinnitus

• Affects up to 20% of the population
• Can be constant or intermittent
• May affect one or both ears
• Ranges from barely noticeable to severely disruptive
• Not a condition itself, but a symptom of an underlying issue

What Causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is not a disease, but rather a symptom indicating an issue somewhere in the auditory system. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood, but tinnitus seems to arise when the networks of nerve cells processing sound become imbalanced, creating the illusion of sound where none exists.

There are many potential underlying causes of tinnitus, including:

• Hearing loss
• Exposure to loud noises
• Ear infections or blockages
• Head or neck injuries
• Cardiovascular problems
• Medications (ototoxic drugs)
• Meniere’s disease
• Acoustic neuroma
• Stress and anxiety

In many cases, tinnitus begins without an obvious trigger. The diverse range of potential causes can make diagnosis challenging for medical professionals.

How is Tinnitus Diagnosed?

If you experience persistent tinnitus lasting more than 3 months, it’s advisable to consult a doctor. The diagnostic process typically involves:

1. Medical history review
2. Physical examination of the ear
3. Hearing tests
4. Imaging tests (in some cases)

Your primary care physician may refer you to an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) for a more comprehensive evaluation. The specialist will work to identify any underlying conditions causing the tinnitus and assess its impact on your daily life.

Questions Your Doctor May Ask

• When did you first notice the tinnitus?
• Is it constant or intermittent?
• Does it affect one or both ears?
• How would you describe the sound?
• Does anything make it better or worse?
• Have you been exposed to loud noises recently?
• Are you experiencing any other symptoms?

What Treatment Options are Available for Tinnitus?

While there is no cure for tinnitus, several treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. The most effective approach often involves a combination of therapies tailored to the individual’s needs.

Common Tinnitus Treatments

• Hearing aids: For those with hearing loss and tinnitus
• Sound therapy: Using external sounds to mask or distract from tinnitus
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps change negative thought patterns associated with tinnitus
• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): Combines counseling and sound therapy
• Medications: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may help in some cases
• Relaxation techniques: Stress management can reduce tinnitus perception

Wearable sound generators, small electronic devices that fit in the ear, can provide relief by producing soft, pleasant sounds that mask the tinnitus. Some individuals find tabletop sound generators helpful for relaxation and sleep.

Can Tinnitus Be Prevented?

While not all cases of tinnitus can be prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk:

• Protect your hearing: Use earplugs or earmuffs in noisy environments
• Keep volume levels moderate when using headphones
• Take regular breaks from prolonged exposure to loud sounds
• Manage stress levels through relaxation techniques
• Maintain good cardiovascular health
• Avoid ototoxic medications when possible

If you work in a noisy environment, follow workplace safety guidelines and use appropriate hearing protection. Regular hearing check-ups can help detect and address potential issues early.

How Does Tinnitus Impact Daily Life?

The effects of tinnitus can extend far beyond the auditory symptoms, potentially impacting various aspects of daily life:

Emotional and Psychological Effects

• Anxiety and depression
• Irritability and frustration
• Difficulty concentrating
• Reduced social interaction

Physical Effects

• Sleep disturbances
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle tension

Lifestyle Effects

• Decreased work productivity
• Reduced enjoyment of quiet activities
• Avoidance of social situations
• Strained personal relationships

The severity of these impacts varies widely among individuals. Some people learn to habituate to their tinnitus over time, while others may require ongoing support and management strategies.

What Research is Being Conducted on Tinnitus?

Ongoing research aims to deepen our understanding of tinnitus and develop more effective treatments. Some current areas of investigation include:

• Neural mechanisms underlying tinnitus
• Genetic factors contributing to tinnitus susceptibility
• Novel sound therapy approaches
• Brain stimulation techniques
• Pharmaceutical interventions

One NIH-sponsored study is exploring the effectiveness of an experimental therapy combining educational counseling with a sound-generation device. This approach, known as tinnitus retraining therapy, has shown promise in earlier trials for easing the annoyance of tinnitus and its impact on people’s lives.

The study is specifically recruiting active and retired military personnel, as tinnitus is one of the most common service-related injuries among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Exposure to loud noises, including bomb blasts, can cause tissue damage in hearing-related areas of the brain and ear, leading to tinnitus.

When Should You See a Doctor About Tinnitus?

While occasional, brief episodes of tinnitus are common and usually not cause for concern, you should consult a healthcare professional if:

• Your tinnitus persists for more than 3 months
• The sound is severe or getting worse
• It’s affecting your quality of life
• You experience sudden hearing loss or dizziness
• Your tinnitus pulsates or beats in rhythm with your heartbeat

Early intervention can help identify any underlying conditions and prevent potential complications. Your doctor can also provide guidance on management strategies to minimize the impact of tinnitus on your daily life.

What to Expect During Your Doctor’s Visit

1. Discussion of your symptoms and medical history
2. Physical examination of your ears
3. Hearing tests to assess any hearing loss
4. Possible referral to an ENT specialist for further evaluation

Remember, while tinnitus can be frustrating and sometimes distressing, many effective management strategies are available. With proper care and support, most people with tinnitus can find relief and improve their quality of life.

Ringing in Your Ears? | NIH News in Health

August 2011

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Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but some people also hear it as a roaring, clicking, hissing or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, and it might affect both of your ears or only one. For some people, it’s a minor annoyance. For others, it can interfere with sleep and grow to be a source of mental and emotional anguish.

Each year about 1 in 10 adults nationwide has an episode of tinnitus that lasts longer than 3 months. Tinnitus isn’t a disease. Instead, it’s a symptom that something is wrong with your auditory system. The problem may exist somewhere in your ear, in the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain or in the parts of the brain that make sense of sounds.

Scientists still aren’t entirely sure what happens in the auditory system to cause tinnitus. But somehow, the networks of nerve cells that process sounds have been thrown out of balance in a way that creates the illusion of sound where there is none.

Because tinnitus can arise from so many conditions, ranging from hearing loss to high blood pressure to medications, diagnosing the cause or causes can be a challenge. For many people, the ringing in their ears begins for no obvious reason.

Although there’s no cure for tinnitus, several treatments can make it easier to cope. Hearing aids may help those who have hearing loss along with tinnitus. Behavioral therapy with counseling helps people learn how to live with the noise. Wearable sound generators—small electronic devices that fit in the ear—use a soft, pleasant sound to help mask the tinnitus and offer relief.

Some people with tinnitus use tabletop sound generators to help them relax or fall asleep. Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs may be prescribed to improve mood and sleep patterns. Most doctors offer a combination of these treatments, depending on the severity of the tinnitus and the daily activities it affects the most.

Researchers have been working on new ways to treat tinnitus. One NIH-sponsored study has just begun recruiting active and retired military personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces to test the effectiveness of an experimental tinnitus therapy. Soldiers exposed to loud noise, including bomb blasts, can develop tinnitus due to tissue damage in hearing-related areas of the brain and ear. In fact, tinnitus is one of the most common service-related injuries among military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The experimental treatment in this study combines educational counseling with a sound-generation device.

Called tinnitus retraining therapy, the approach has shown promise in earlier trials and appears to ease the annoyance of tinnitus and its impact on people’s lives. Learn more about the study at clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01177137.

Talk to your doctor if you’ve had ringing in your ears for more than 3 months. Your physician will ask about your symptoms and look into your ear to search for possible causes. You may be referred to an otolaryngologist (a doctor who specializes in conditions of the ear, nose and throat) for further evaluation.

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Why Do You Hear a Ringing in Your Ears? | Thousand Oaks | Simi Valley, CA

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Posted on April 13, 2017 by Decibel Hearing Services

Do you ever hear sounds that are not really there? I don’t mean like footsteps in your upstairs hallway or someone saying your name in a crowded Thousand Oaks shop, more like a buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing or ringing in your ears. If so, you may be experiencing tinnitus.
 
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a sound in your ear when no noise is actually present. Some hear these sounds constantly while others only experience it sporadically. The sound can be present in both ears or one ear and can vary in frequency and pitch. Since tinnitus is typically a symptom of an underlying condition or a side effect, it is quite common; almost 20 percent of the population reports some degree of tinnitus. In addition to hearing sounds, those with tinnitus often also experience fatigue, sleep problems, memory problems, depression and anxiety.

Now that we know what tinnitus is, why does it happen?

Why Does Ringing in Your Ears Happen?

 
There are two kinds of ringing in the ear: subjective and objective. The most common type is called subjective; it is a ringing only you can hear. The second, and much rarer type of tinnitus is called objective. This occurs when your doctor can actually hear the ringing during an examination.
 
The most common cause of tinnitus is damage to the inner ear. The inner ear is lined with small hairs. Sound waves cause these hairs to move. The movement of the hairs causes an electrical signal to be sent through the auditory nerve to your brain where it is interpreted as sound. If these hairs become damaged they can begin to randomly send electrical impulses. These signals are interpreted by your brain as a ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking or hissing. Age-related hearing loss, exposure to loud noise and earwax blockage are all common causes of inner ear damage.
 

Tinnitus and Ear Disorders

 
In addition to inner ear damage, tinnitus is also a common side effect of some disorders. Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder categorized by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus.  Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ disorders) or a head or neck injury can cause tinnitus. Acoustic neuroma, a noncancerous tumor that develops on the nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear, can also cause tinnitus, although usually only in one ear.
 
Blood vessel disorders have been known to cause tinnitus. Atherosclerosis is a condition that can cause the blood vessels near the ear to become rigid. This causes blood flow to be more forceful and as a result, you can actually hear it. High blood pressure, a head or neck tumor pressing on a blood vessel or irregular blood flow can cause tinnitus.

Tinnitus and Drugs

 
There are more than 200 drugs known to list tinnitus as a side effect. Fortunately, the symptoms will disappear when you stop using the drug. These drugs range from cancer medications to water pills, quinine medications, some antibiotics and certain antidepressants.
 
In order for your Thousand Oaks audiologist to develop a tinnitus management plan, they will need to figure out the cause. If you are ready to finally find relief, contact your Thousand Oaks audiologist.
 

The main causes and treatment of tinnitus

According to statistics, every ninth out of ten people periodically experience some kind of sound in their ears. And in complete silence. As a rule, they pass quickly and are forgotten about. Experts explain such phenomena by the physiological characteristics of the hearing aid – the movement of blood through the vessels in the inner ear. And they are advised to ignore them. Another thing is when noise in the ears and head that appears without an extraneous irritant persistently “haunts” you for a long time. This is already an alarm signal, so we recommend that you seek help from a specialist.

What is tinnitus like

In each case, a person may experience different sensations. For some it is a hum or whistle, for others it is ringing, buzzing, wheezing or hissing. Such manifestations even have a special medical term – “tinnitus”, which in Greek means tinnitus. It can be loud, quiet, accompanied by hearing loss.

The monotonous sounds that a person constantly hears bring discomfort to his life. This can lead to insomnia, fatigue, reduced concentration, anxiety and fear. Even disorders of the nervous system are possible. Alarming symptoms indicate that you have problems that only a doctor can handle.

Causes of tinnitus

Why does a person hear “intrusive” sounds? According to studies, their origin depends, for example, on the individual characteristics of the organism or concomitant diseases. There is another reason: sounds occur when one of the ear sections is inflamed. Consider the main cases of the appearance of tinnitus.

• Blockage of ear canal

It is considered the most common cause: due to the ingress of water into the ear, foreign objects or the formation of cerumen plug, the ear canal is partially closed. As a result, you are hard of hearing, you feel a dull noise and an increased sound of your own voice.

• Diseases of the outer, middle and inner ear

As a rule, this is the result of complications of influenza and SARS, the appearance of a tumor or cyst. The cause of inflammatory processes can be injuries to the eardrum, neck and head.

• General diseases

Monotonous sounds appear in diabetes mellitus, diseases of the thyroid gland and the cardiovascular system (the so-called venous noise).

• Lifestyle and body condition

Often, tinnitus appears in people of different ages as a result of stress, heavy physical exertion, after visiting discos and concerts where loud music is played. Hearing discomfort occurs when poisoning or as a side effect after taking certain medications. In older people, auditory changes occur due to age.

Diagnosis

To get rid of tinnitus, we recommend visiting an otolaryngologist. The doctor will listen to your complaints, conduct a thorough examination, check your hearing and, if necessary, send you for a digital study. If this is not enough to make an accurate diagnosis, then an additional examination by another specialist is prescribed.

Treatment for tinnitus

It is important to understand that ringing or noise in the ears is a symptom of an illness that needs to be treated. A comprehensive examination makes it possible to find out the cause of the disease and do everything to eliminate it.

If sulfur plug is the cause, remove it by flushing with water pressure. To combat inflammation inside the ear, the doctor prescribes antimicrobials. If necessary, drugs are used to improve blood circulation in the vessels of the brain, as well as against convulsions and spasms. In the case of psycho-emotional disorders, sedative therapy is used.

When the doctor sees that it is possible to do without medicines, an anti-stress course is prescribed, which includes physiotherapy, massage, swimming, yoga. This is a great “medicine” to relax and cheer up.

You can reduce your risk of tinnitus by listening to our advice. Take good care of your ear canal. To protect yourself from hypothermia, dress according to the weather, do not neglect a hat. Protect your ears from loud music.

Take care of your health. If symptoms such as noise, whistling, ringing in the ears appear, do not wait until they pass by themselves. Make an appointment with an otolaryngologist. The doctor will identify the cause, relieve you of discomfort and preserve your hearing.

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Noise, ringing and other disturbing sounds in the ears. Objective and subjective – true tinnitus

Tinnitus – objective symptom or subjective sensation? How to understand this and what to do in the first and second cases, says the head physician of the MasterSluh medical centers in Krasnodar, an audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist Vladimir Gaufman.

Ringing (noisy) in the ears. Time to put on your tinfoil hat?

You are not alone

Noise, ringing, hissing, hum and other incomprehensible sounds in the ears, arising, as they say, for no reason at all. According to the statistics of the Russian National Medical Association of Otorhinolaryngologists, up to 45% of the adult population hear strange sounds from time to time. In fact, each of us at least once in our lives, but faced with similar sensations. For most, they come and go unexpectedly, they happen infrequently and last no more than 5 minutes. However, 8% of people experience constant noise, and 1% really suffer from it, it greatly interferes with their lives. They are more likely to reach the doctor, while the rest prefer not to pay attention to the last. And here the most interesting begins …

How to find the sound source

The causes of tinnitus may be objective.

Firstly associated with some real disease, physiological changes, injuries. The list is very large:

• Tumors.
• Inflammation in various parts of the ear.
• Vascular atherosclerosis.
• Pathology of the mandibular joint.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Bone growth in the ear.
• Increased volume of fluid in the ear.
• Osteochondrosis.
• Hypertension.
• Foreign body in the ear.
• Prolonged noise exposure (eg, industrial environments, living in loud areas) is essentially an auditory injury.
• Earwax accumulation, etc., etc.

Secondly, consequences, complications of previous diseases, most often SARS, influenza, and now coronavirus.

Third, people with hearing aids or cochlear implants that are misfitted can suffer from tinnitus. Or, most likely, just adapting to a new medical device.

Fourth, tinnitus can be a manifestation of the “side effects” of various drugs: antibiotics, diuretics, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs used in psychiatry.

Doubt whether this is your case? First of all, look at the “Side Effects” section in the instructions, tell your doctor or audiologist what medications you are taking so that he can be alert if they cause tinnitus. Perhaps the abolition or replacement of a suspicious drug will help to remove tinnitus.

True tinnitus is not associated with any of the above. This is just a subjective feeling. Patients at appointments describe it as noise, hum, ringing, rattle, squeak, whistle, rustle …. It intensifies in a quiet, calm environment. In places filled with different sounds, it is more difficult to notice. It can be one obsessive frequency or a wide spectrum.

It has been noticed that people with depression, increased anxiety, who cannot be distracted, switch to other sensations, suffer from tinnitus more often, but on the contrary, they are very afraid of their own ringing in the ears.

How to treat?

Obviously, if there are objective causes for ringing, buzzing or noise in the ears, they should be dealt with first of all – treated, perhaps even with the help of a surgeon. And to say “thank you” to your tinnitus and your own vigilance that you managed to find the problem at an early stage.

Tinnitus, as a consequence of past illnesses, can be eliminated by competent rehabilitation, but you need to be prepared for what is likely – not quickly.

If you experience tinnitus after a hearing aid replacement or a cochlear implant, you should probably just wait. The body will get used to it, and you will stop noticing the unusual noise. Just in case, tell your audiologist about the problem, you may need additional adjustment of the medical device.

If it turns out that there is nothing to treat, the specialist can diagnose obsessive tinnitus and prescribe:

• Anti-anxiety medications ranging from mild to prescription.
• See a mental health doctor.
• Advise to change the environment, nervous work, go on vacation, change your lifestyle to a more calm, healthy one.
• Try sound therapy – focus on pleasant calm sounds: sea waves, rustling leaves, birds chirping, etc.

A novelty of recent years in the treatment of tinnitus – Notch-therapy – sound therapy, during which the frequency at which an incomprehensible sound is disturbing is determined? and the brain is trained to turn it off.