Ringing in the ears or commonly known as tinnitus is the condition where you sense a buzzing, whistling, chirping and other intermittent or continuous noise without being caused by any external source. This can irritate especially if the background noise is lower and can happen due to many reasons including age-related hearing problems to an ear injury. Tinnitus is rather a common problem and can be seen in mostly older adults. Tinnitus in some cases goes away spontaneously but there are several approaches taken by health professionals to cure tinnitus including tinnitus sound therapy, masking devices, hearing aids, cognitive therapy and more.
Let us take a look at the common symptoms of tinnitus so that you can easily identify the problem related to your ear health.
Symptoms of tinnitus
While tinnitus is mainly and vaguely described only as ringing in the ears, the noise and intensity can hugely vary from person to person. If you have this condition you may experience sensations like buzzing, humming, clicking, roaring or hissing and can vary from a high squeal to a low roar. In some cases, it can interfere with daily activities due to its high intensity which causes irritation and inability to hear noises or concentrate properly. If you experience this type of sensation after recovering from a cold and the noises don’t go away after one week or you experience dizziness or hearing loss problems.
Causes of tinnitus
There are several reasons and health conditions that can cause tinnitus or even worsen it. Here are some of the common causes that can be found behind this condition.
Hearing loss: Our hearing ability depends on the electrical signals received by certain tiny hair cells located in the inner ear that move when the ear receives sound waves. These electrical signals then interpret as sound by our brain. When these hair cells get damaged due to age or other reasons you can experience conditions like tinnitus due to the leakage of random electrical impulses.
Injuries on neck or head: Any injury on your neck or head can lead to inner ear damages or may affect hearing nerves. This can result in developing tinnitus in some cases.
Ear infection or blockage in the ear canal: In some instances, your ear canal may get blocked due to earwax, or fluid build-up from infection, foreign materials or dirt. This extra pressure created by the blockage can also cause a ringing sensation in your ears.
Medications: Certain medications may cause or worsen the condition of tinnitus. Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and some antibiotics may cause tinnitus in some cases.
Treatment of tinnitus
Tinnitus may also happen due to some underlying health conditions. If that is the case then treating the condition is the first step you can take. But if the condition still remains the same even after the treatment, then you might need to consult your doctor who can diagnose your tinnitus properly. Some common treatment-related to tinnitus are-
Sound therapy: Tinnitus sound therapy or acoustic therapy involves low-level background music that masks the noises caused by tinnitus. This creates a distraction that helps you to cover up some of the noises in your ears.
Cognitive therapy: This form of counselling often combines with masking and medication to modify the reaction to one’s tinnitus.
Masking devices: Some masking devices and hearing aids also prevent the intensity of the noises.
Tinnitus can happen due to various reasons and can often increase in severity. Though there are multiple ways including the mentioned ones to treat tinnitus, it is recommended to visit your nearest hearing clinic to get a proper diagnosis.
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