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What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is marked by ringing or buzzing noises in the ear without any clear reason for it, and can indicate a more serious underlying condition such as tumors or an infection. Tinnitus can be constant, intermittent, or pulsating. It is most always a chronic condition, but can be managed successfully to reduce its irritating effects.

The effects of tinnitus can be in one ear or unilateral or occur in both ears or bilateral. The term tinnitus is derived from the Latin word Tinnitus which means “ringing.” It has been a constant problem for thousands of years with various methods of treatment.

There are two distinct types of Tinnitus. The first, Subjective Tinnitus refers to a noise only the affected person can hear while Objective Tinnitus can be heard by a professional health care provider. Each type carries its own cause. Objective Tinnitus is generally treatable; however subjective Tinnitus is more difficult as only the person affected can hear it.

Tinnitus is caused by:

Obstruction due to fluid or wax buildup Ear infections Damage to the eardrum or the little bones in the middle ear Aspirin overdose Meniere’s disease Brain tumor Aneurysm Traumatic head injury, such as a severe blow to the head.

Tinnitus is diagnosed by your health care professional who will get your medical history, perform a physical examination, and conduct special hearing tests such as an audiogram.

Other important tests:

Auditory brain stem response (ABR), tests the hearing nerves and brain pathways CT scan MRI scan to rule out a tumor

Treatment:

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Tinnitus; however it can be managed by introducing other noises into your environment that can take the focus off the annoying buzzing in your ears. Oftentimes, it can alleviate itself on its own; however there are some cases where it is a lifelong affliction.

Prevention:

For those who suffer from a chronic illness such as hypertension, it is highly imperative that they keep their blood pressure within the normal range, avoid fatigue and stress and take all medications at the proper prescribed dosage. Aspirin is a common medication used, however if taken improperly can result in Tinnitus.

Another tool at your disposal that is also cost effective in the fight against Tinnitus is introducing another sound into the room. This additional noise can be from a fan or anything else that allows you to focus on it rather than the buzzing in your ears. Referred to as “white noise” these distracting sounds are highly effective in combating Tinnitus.

Consult your health care provider if you believe you suffer from Tinnitus. And remember, adding a little white noise can be a beautiful way to combat the buzzing, ringing blues.

Barb Hicks is an established writer and registered nurse who loves to share her knowledge about Hearing Loss Symptoms with others. She has more articles including Conductive Hearing Loss Treatments on Clivir.com.