What causes the persistent ringing in your ears. How can you effectively manage tinnitus symptoms. What are the latest treatment options available for tinnitus sufferers. Is tinnitus a sign of a more serious underlying condition. How does tinnitus impact your daily life and well-being.

What is Tinnitus and How Common is It?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head when no external sound is present. It’s often described as a ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or clicking noise that can be intermittent or constant. While many people experience occasional tinnitus, chronic tinnitus affects a significant portion of the population.

How prevalent is tinnitus? According to the American Tinnitus Association:

• Approximately 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus
• About 20% of the population reports tinnitus symptoms
• Roughly 12 million people have severe tinnitus requiring medical attention
• For about 2 million individuals, tinnitus severely impacts their daily life

These statistics highlight that tinnitus is a widespread condition affecting millions of people to varying degrees. For some, it’s a minor annoyance, while for others it can be severely debilitating.

What Causes the Ringing in Your Ears?

While the exact physiological mechanism behind tinnitus is not fully understood, several factors are known to trigger or exacerbate the condition:

Damage to Inner Ear Hair Cells

The most common cause of tinnitus is damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. These cells convert sound waves into electrical signals that the brain interprets as sound. When damaged, they can send random electrical impulses to the brain, which are perceived as tinnitus.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Exposure to loud noises, either from a single intense event or prolonged exposure over time, can damage inner ear structures and lead to tinnitus. This is why tinnitus is common among musicians, construction workers, and military personnel.

Age-Related Hearing Loss

As we age, the natural deterioration of inner ear structures can result in hearing loss and tinnitus. This type of tinnitus, associated with presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), typically begins around age 60.

Earwax Blockage

Sometimes, tinnitus can be caused by something as simple as excessive earwax. When earwax builds up and hardens, it can irritate the eardrum and cause tinnitus.

Can Medical Conditions Cause Tinnitus?

Yes, several medical conditions can lead to tinnitus as a symptom or side effect:

Ménière’s Disease

This inner ear disorder is characterized by episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed to be related to abnormal fluid pressure in the inner ear.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

Problems with the jaw joint can sometimes cause tinnitus. This is likely due to the proximity of the jaw joint to the ear and the shared nerve pathways.

Acoustic Neuroma

This rare, noncancerous tumor develops on the nerve connecting the brain to the inner ear. It can cause tinnitus, usually in one ear.

Blood Vessel Disorders

Conditions affecting blood flow near the ears can cause a type of tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus. This includes:

• Atherosclerosis: Hardening of the arteries near the ear
• High blood pressure
• Tumors pressing on blood vessels in the head or neck

How Can Medications Affect Tinnitus?

Surprisingly, over 200 medications list tinnitus as a potential side effect. These include:

• Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Certain antibiotics
• Some cancer medications
• Diuretics or “water pills”
• Quinine-based medications
• Some antidepressants

In most cases, the tinnitus symptoms subside once the medication is discontinued. However, always consult with your healthcare provider before stopping any prescribed medication.

What Are the Different Types of Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is generally classified into two main categories:

Subjective Tinnitus

This is the most common form of tinnitus. Only the person experiencing it can hear the sound. It’s typically caused by problems in the outer, middle, or inner ear, or in the auditory nerves and the part of the brain that interprets nerve signals as sound.

Objective Tinnitus

This rare form of tinnitus can be heard by a doctor during an examination. It’s often caused by blood vessel problems, middle ear bone conditions, or muscle contractions.

Understanding the type of tinnitus you’re experiencing can help guide treatment options and management strategies.

How Does Tinnitus Impact Daily Life?

While some people with tinnitus find it to be a minor inconvenience, for others, it can significantly affect their quality of life. Common impacts include:

• Sleep disturbances: Tinnitus can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Concentration problems: The constant noise can interfere with focus and productivity
• Emotional distress: Tinnitus can lead to anxiety, depression, and irritability
• Social isolation: Some people may avoid social situations due to their tinnitus
• Fatigue: The constant effort to ignore the noise can be exhausting

These impacts underscore the importance of seeking treatment and developing coping strategies for managing tinnitus.

What Are the Available Treatment Options for Tinnitus?

While there’s no cure for tinnitus, several treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life:

Sound Therapy

This involves using external noise to alter your perception of or reaction to tinnitus. Options include:

• White noise machines
• Hearing aids with masking features
• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT can help you learn to live with tinnitus by changing the way you think about and respond to it. It’s particularly effective in reducing tinnitus-related distress.

Medications

While no medication cures tinnitus, some may help reduce its severity or complications. These might include:

• Antidepressants
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Sleep aids

Treating Underlying Conditions

If your tinnitus is a symptom of another condition, treating that condition may alleviate the tinnitus. For example, removing impacted earwax or treating a blood vessel condition might resolve tinnitus symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain lifestyle modifications can help manage tinnitus:

• Stress reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
• Avoiding triggers like loud noises or certain foods
• Regular exercise
• Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake

How Can You Prevent Tinnitus?

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

Protect Your Hearing

Use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones in noisy environments. Keep the volume at a reasonable level when using headphones.

Manage Cardiovascular Health

Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and manage conditions like high blood pressure to reduce the risk of tinnitus related to blood vessel disorders.

Limit Ototoxic Medications

If possible, avoid medications known to cause or worsen tinnitus. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication regimen.

Regular Hearing Check-ups

Regular hearing tests can help detect and address hearing problems early, potentially preventing or minimizing tinnitus.

By understanding the causes, impacts, and management strategies for tinnitus, those affected can take proactive steps to improve their quality of life. If you’re experiencing persistent tinnitus, don’t hesitate to consult with a healthcare professional or audiologist. They can provide a comprehensive evaluation and develop a personalized management plan to help you find relief from the ringing in your ears.

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.
 

Tinnitus: One Possible Reason Your Ears Won’t Stop Ringing

Some people have a ringing in their ears. Others might hear a roaring, buzzing, hissing or clicking inside their heads. The sounds may be intermittent, or they may be constant. They may be a minor annoyance or a major distraction. But if you’re one of the nearly 10 percent of adults who experience some form of tinnitus, there may be help.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of any external sound. It can be perceived in one or both ears, or in the head.

Tinnitus can be described in many different ways. Patients report hearing sounds such as a high-pitched ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, ticking, roaring, clicking, crickets, tunes, songs, whooshing or the sound of wind or waves.

The American Tinnitus Association estimates the more than 50 million American experience tinnitus to some degree. Of these, about 12 million have severe enough tinnitus to seek medical attention. And about two million patients are so seriously debilitated that their daily living is affected.

Causes of Tinnitus

The exact physiological cause of tinnitus is unknown, says UH otolaryngologist Sarah Mowry, MD. “Several sources are known, however, to trigger or worsen tinnitus,” she says, such as:

Noise-induced hearing loss – This is the most common cause of tinnitus. Either a single intense event or long-term noise exposure such as factory or construction work, can damage hearing. With exposure to loud noise, hair cells in the inner ear become damaged or destroyed. Once damaged, these hair cells cannot be renewed or replaced. Up to 90 percent of all tinnitus patients have some level of hearing loss.

Wax build up – Everyone produces different amount of earwax. When a significant amount of earwax becomes built up in the ear canal, hearing can be compromised and tinnitus may seem louder. Earwax should not be removed with a cotton swab. You should speak to your physician or ear, nose and throat doctor.

Certain medications – Some medicines are toxic to the ears and can produce tinnitus as a side effect. Effects depend on the medicine’s dose and can be temporary or permanent.

Ear or sinus infections – Many people, including children, experience tinnitus along with an ear or sinus infection. This will generally lessen and gradually go away once the infection is healed.

Jaw misalignment – Temporomandibular jaw misalignment, or TMJ, can induce tinnitus.

Cardiovascular disease – About 3 percent of tinnitus patients experience pulsatile tinnitus, often in time with their heartbeat. This can indicate the presence of a vascular condition where the blood flow through the veins and arteries is compromised – like a heart murmur, hypertension or hardening of the arteries.

Certain types of tumors – Very rarely, a person will have a benign, slow-growing tumor on their auditory, vestibular or facial nerves. These tumors can cause tinnitus, deafness, facial paralysis and loss of balance.

Head and neck trauma – Physical injury to the head and neck can induce tinnitus.

Certain disorders – Hypo or hyperthyroidism, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia and thoracic outlet syndrome can have tinnitus as a symptom.

What To Do If You Think You Have Tinnitus

The first steps to take if you think you have tinnitus is to note the details surrounding your symptoms. Did you begin a new medicine or were injured or exposed to excessive noise right before it started? Is the tinnitus in one or both ears? Does it fluctuate or is constant? Do you have a hearing loss?

Next, visit your physician or make an appointment with an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist). Also, have your hearing checked by an audiologist.

Living with Tinnitus

Most people who seek medical help for their tinnitus learn that no serious medical problem is causing their condition. This knowledge alone is often enough to allow some to adapt to the sounds they hear.

“Other people experience tinnitus as disruptive and stress-inducing and need help learning how to cope with the sounds,” Dr. Mowry says. She has these tips on coping with tinnitus:

Avoid silence – Tinnitus can sound louder when you are in total silence. Listening to soothing music or nature sounds can promote a comfortable state of relaxation. Other soothing sound suggestions are an aquarium, dehumidifier or electric fan.

Amplification – If you have hearing loss and tinnitus, a hearing aid will help you hear ambient sounds that can take the focus away from the tinnitus.

Maskers – This is a device that resembles a hearing aid and produces a “shhh” sound to cover the tinnitus. “These help your brain suppress the phantom noise so it’s less bothersome,” Dr. Mowry says.

Retraining therapy – You can try to retrain your brain to ignore the tinnitus sounds. This treatment can take more than one year.

Cognitive behavior therapy – This helps you identify and alter maladaptive thoughts and behaviors to achieve relief.

Biofeedback – This therapy teaches stress management and how to control your blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature.

Drug therapy – Some medicines have been investigated for use in relieving tinnitus; however, medicines are primarily used to help with anxiety, depression and sleep difficulties that can be associated with tinnitus. Treating these problems can indirectly help.

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Our nationally recognized team of hearing and balance experts at University Hospitals, many of whom have advanced fellowship training in the ear, nose and throat subspecialties of otology and neurotology, provide specialized care for ear, hearing and balance disorders. Learn more about the Ear, Hearing and Balance Center at University Hospitals.

5 exercises to relieve tinnitus

Tinnitus, or tinnitus, is very common. This is a condition in which you constantly hear ringing, buzzing or whistling in your ears. But why is this happening, and what can you do about it?

No one hears these sounds except you, but you hear them all the time. This is ringing in the ears or tinnitus.

Where does it come from?

The most common cause is hearing loss caused by noise.

Have you ever noticed that after a concert you hear ringing in your ears for a while? After high-profile events, this happens often. In this case, the tinnitus does not last long, but even then it causes irritation.

But if you are exposed to loud noise for a long time, you will notice that you hear ringing in your ears constantly. It can be a ringing, hum or buzz. The good news is that there are ways to reduce tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

The exact cause of tinnitus is unknown. However, prolonged exposure to loud noise is considered one of the main causes.

Tinnitus can also be associated with ear infections, wax buildup, changes in the auditory ossicles, and damage to the auditory nerve. Some of these problems can be corrected, but treatment may not completely eliminate the symptoms of tinnitus.

Finally, age-related hearing loss can also lead to tinnitus. Like any other organ in your body, hearing gradually deteriorates with age, and in some cases this deterioration can lead to tinnitus.

There is no explanation yet of what happens inside the ears and in the brain when tinnitus occurs. One theory is that if the hair cells in the ears are damaged (often as a result of loud noise), the brain stops receiving signals in the same amount. Instead, the brain begins to create these signals on its own, and the illusion of sound appears – what we call tinnitus.

What makes tinnitus worse?

Several factors can cause an increase in tinnitus. Tinnitus becomes more noticeable when you are tired or stressed, or when you are in a very quiet environment (because you begin to pay more attention to ringing or buzzing).

Smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine, certain medications, aspirin, antibiotics can also increase the sensation of tinnitus.

How to treat tinnitus?

Of course, first of all, you need to get rid of bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle. There are also various types of therapy. The effects of tinnitus, such as insomnia or tension, can be relieved by listening to different types of sounds.

For example, there are phone apps that play soothing sounds and reduce the sensation of tinnitus. There are also portable noise generators.

Some experts believe that such therapy changes the sensitivity of the auditory areas of the brain, others think that such sounds simply help to distract.

How are hearing loss and tinnitus related?

If you are hearing impaired, your tinnitus will sound louder. Very often, hearing loss is accompanied by tinnitus. In fact, many people with hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus, and vice versa. But it is not always the case.

If you are concerned about tinnitus, be sure to contact your ENT specialist or hearing care professional.

Tinnitus can be annoying – that annoying noise just won’t go away! Many people find that relaxation exercises can be helpful. Here are some that you can try at home.

Preparation

It is important to assume a comfortable position before doing relaxation exercises:

• Sit in a comfortable chair in a quiet place.
• Practice with relaxing music. Or turn off the music if it distracts you.
• Remove shoes and wear loose and comfortable clothing.

Tinnitus Relief Exercises

Progressive Muscle Relaxation – While sitting, focus on the muscles of one part of the body, such as the right foot. Inhale and tighten only the muscles you are concentrating on for 8 seconds. Then abruptly relax them. Allow tension and pain to release from the muscles as you exhale slowly. Systematically continue this movement from head to toe.

Deep breath – repeat the following cycle 20 times:

• Exhale completely through the mouth.
• Take a long breath (for 4 seconds) through your nose.
• Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
• Exhale completely through your mouth for 6-8 seconds.

Managed images. After you relax by doing deep breathing exercises, close your eyes and continue to breathe deeply, imagining yourself in the most relaxing environment. Imagine a picture using all your senses: the smell of the beach, the feel of the wind, the taste of your favorite drink. Turn on relaxing background music to feel even more comfortable.

Relief through music therapy.

Music therapy can also neutralize tinnitus. Typical sounds used in the treatment of tinnitus may include sounds amplified by hearing aids, environmental sounds, and music or “white noise”. Try Widex´ Zen Simulator to learn more about how music therapy can help relieve tinnitus.

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.