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Tinnitus: Noises
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Tinnitus (pronounced "tin-it-tus") is an abnormal noise in the ear (note that it is not an "itis" -- or inflammation). Tinnitus is common -- nearly 36 million Americans have constant tinnitus and more than half of the normal population has intermittent tinnitus.
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Tinnitus is the name given to the condition of noises 'in the ears' and/or 'in the head' with no external source. Tinnitus noises are described variously as ringing, whistling, buzzing and humming.
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Tinnitus is not simple. Everybody's tinnitus noise is individual to them, although of course there are several major types e.g. ringing, buzzing, whistling, roaring, humming etc. Its causes are many (though excessive noise and some medications are the major PREVENTABLE causes). The range of tinnitus is very wide from mild to severe. It is usual for tinnitus to fluctuate with stress or tiredness and this has no sinister significance. If tinnitus is troubling you TAKE ACTION NOW.
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Tinnitus may interfere with the ability to concentrate or sleep and may cause psychological distress. Some common causes for tinnitus are reaction to medication, presbycusis (hearing loss due to aging), anxiety, damage from noise (acoustic trauma) heavy smoking, drugs such as alcohol, aminoglycoside antibiotics, indomethacin, quinine, or salicylates.
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If a specific cause for tinnitus is found, then your doctor may be able to eliminate the noise. Examples of specific causes include medication, tumors, infections, Meniere's disease, TMJ and otosclerosis. Tinnitus due to the tensor tympani can be treated by transection of that muscle. To find a specific cause it may require a fairly extensive workup including X-rays and blood tests. However, even after extensive workup, most causes of tinnitus go undiagnosed.
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Most tinnitus comes from damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. The health of these nerve endings is important for acute hearing, and injury to them brings on hearing loss and often tinnitus. If you are older, advancing age is generally accompanied by a certain amount of hearing nerve impairment and tinnitus. If you are younger, exposure to loud noise is probably the leading cause of tinnitus, and often damages hearing as well.
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