Tinnitus
Understand and Manage the Ringing in Your Ears
Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is a widespread condition that affects an estimated 50 million Americans. Some people describe it as a hissing, roaring, whooshing, or buzzing sound instead of ringing. It may be sporadic or constant and is a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a disease itself. There are many factors that can cause tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is categorized as being either pulsatile or nonpulsatile.
People who suffer from pulsatile tinnitus report hearing the sound of their own pulse. It is caused by abnormal blood flow within the arteries of the neck or inside the ear and is fairly rare. Possible causes include:
- Fluid in the middle ear
- Ear infections
- High blood pressure
- Head or neck tumors
- Blocked arteries
Nonpulsatile tinnitus – ringing in the ears not accompanied by any type of rhythm – is considerably more common. It can be caused by a variety of conditions including:
- Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)
- Noise exposure
- Impacted earwax
- Otosclerosis
- Meniere’s disease
- Ototoxic medications
- TMJ disorders
- Thyroid conditions
- Head or neck trauma
- Acoustic neuromas
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 Treatment
While tinnitus can’t be cured, there are treatments that can make it less of a distraction. Often, treating the underlying condition responsible for tinnitus can help alleviate the perception of these phantom sounds. Simple steps such as removing built up earwax or switching medications may decrease the symptoms.
For persistent tinnitus, noise suppression therapy or masking techniques can sometimes help alleviate the perception of tinnitus. Hearing aids are often a good solution for tinnitus as they are some models with a built-in tinnitus masker that can help distract your brain. While hearing aids won’t stop ringing in the ears completely, they can help alleviate the symptoms.