Tinnitus
Ringing in the ear, or tinnitus, is a widespread condition described as a ringing, hissing, roaring, whooshing, or buzzing. It may be intermittent or constant and is a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a disease itself.
TINNITUS - CAUSES
Tinnitus is categorized as being either pulsatile or nonpulsatile.
Pulsatile Tinnitus
People who suffer from pulsatile tinnitus often report hearing a thumping or whooshing sound the corresponds to the beat of their pulse. It is caused by abnormal blood flow within the arteries of the neck or inside the ear and is relatively rare. Possible causes include:
Fluid in the Middle Ear
Ear Infections
High Blood Pressure
Head and Neck Tumors
Blocked Arteries
Nonpulsatile Tinnitus
People who have the more common, non-pulsatile tinnitus, describe it as constant, typically occurring in both ears and resulting from injury or dysfunction of the inner ear. It can vary in sound type, pitch and loudness, as well as can be intermittent or chronic, lasting for weeks, months, or even years.
Noise Exposure
- Hear ringing or humming in your ears
- Shouting to be heard
- Experience temporary hearing loss
Impacted Earwax
A buildup of earwax is called impacted earwax. It can cause symptoms such as hearing loss.
Head or Neck Trauma
Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back. Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body.
Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can lead to dizzy spells and hearing loss.
Otosclerosis
Otosclerosis is a condition in which there’s abnormal bone growth inside the ear.
Thyroid Conditions
Thyroid disorders can range from the enlarged gland to cancer.
Ototoxic Medications
Certain medications can damage the ear, resulting in hearing loss, ringing in the ear, or balance disorders.
TMJ Disorders
TMJ disorders can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
Acoustic Neuromas
Acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous and usually slow-growing tumor that develops on the main nerve leading from your inner ear to your brain.
TINNITUS - TYPES
Tinnitus is also classified as being either subjective (heard only by the patient) or objective (ringing can be heard by an impartial observer, such as a doctor). Most cases of tinnitus are subjective in nature.
TINNITUS - TREATMENTS
Unfortunately, there is no universal cure for tinnitus. There are, however, treatments that make it less of a distraction. Because tinnitus is a side effect of an underlying condition, identifying the source is the first step to a solution.
Acoustic Therapy
Sounds in your environment are used to cover up, or mask, the tinnitus. These sounds are used to distract your brain from focusing on the ringing in your ears. Electronic devices that produce white noise, air conditioners, fans, soft music, sound machines or sound relax apps on your phone can all be utilized.
Hearing Aids
Tinnitus is often accompanied by hearing loss. Hearing aids provide the sounds a person is missing, activating the auditory nervous system to reduce the tinnitus and restore neural function. Amplification also allows a patient less listening fatigue and stress resulting in greater relief from their tinnitus.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Similar in concept to acoustic therapy, tinnitus retraining therapy utilizes a wearable sound generator that produces soft patterned acoustic stimuli, matched in pitch and loudness, to of your tinnitus,. This pairing helps desensitize the brain to the sounds of tinnitus.
Counseling
Cognitive and behavioral relaxation methods can be a practical way to help you manage your tinnitus symptoms by reducing the stress, anxiety and sleeplessness that are often associated with tinnitus.
Call Complete Hearing at 402.489.4418 for more information.
