Tinnitus is a common health issue and it is mostly seen in seniors. People with this condition experience different sounds from their ears. The sound is not caused by some outside source, but from the inside of the body and others cannot hear that sound.
There can be several causes of tinnitus. However, treating the underlying condition or other causes can help reduce the signs or symptoms of tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus?
The exact reason for tinnitus is unknown. But there can be several health conditions that can lead to tinnitus. It can be due to the problem with how the ears hear and how the brain understands it. Some of the causes include:
- Loss of hearing: As you age, the hairs in the nose can break or bend when exposed to louder sounds. This can produce irregular impulses to your brain and may lead to tinnitus.
- Ear infection or blockage: When fluid accumulates in the ears, ear canals get blocked. This blockage can cause pressure in your ears and may cause tinnitus.
- Injury to neck or head: Injury or trauma to the head or neck can damage your inner ear, functioning of the brain related to hearing, etc. All these can lead to tinnitus in only a single ear.
- Use of medicines: Certain medications can make tinnitus severe and even high doses of those medications can make tinnitus more severe.
Apart from these, the following are some of the rare causes of tinnitus:
- Changes in ear bones
- Inner ear muscle spasms
- Blood vessel disorders
- Other health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid, anaemia, migraine, etc.
- Head and neck tumours
How Do I Know If I Have Tinnitus?
The sounds due to tinnitus can vary from mild roaring sounds to severe sounds and they can either be heard in one or both ears. Tinnitus can cause the following sounds in your ears:
- Roaring
- Buzzing sound
- Hissing
- Humming
- Ringing
The sounds can last for some time, can come and go, or may exist all the time. Sometimes the sounds can be even louder that you cannot hear outside sounds. In some cases, it can cause rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sound, along with your heartbeat. This is called pulsatile tinnitus.
When Should I Visit a Doctor?
You should consider visiting a doctor immediately if you have the following:
- If tinnitus affects only one ear
- Pressure in one or two ears
- Hearing loss due to tinnitus
- Balancing problems along with tinnitus
Diagnosis and Treatment of Tinnitus
To diagnose tinnitus, your doctor will ask about your medical history to know if you have infections or any other health conditions. The doctor will perform a hearing test to know the condition of your ears. He may also conduct other tests such as MRI scans, CT scans, etc.
The treatment for tinnitus is based on its cause. If earwax is causing tinnitus, it is removed. If the use of certain medications leads to this condition, you might be asked to stop using those medications. If any medical conditions are causing tinnitus, the doctor will develop a plan to treat it. Tinnitus gets treated if its cause gets cured.
If there is no specific reason for tinnitus, the doctor will help you to alleviate the symptoms by following:
- Hearing aids are helpful for people who have hearing loss and tinnitus
- Sound generators can be used behind the ear to create sounds or noises to mask tinnitus and make it tolerable.
- The doctor will suggest relaxing techniques to handle your stress as it can cause tinnitus
- Counselling sessions can also help cope with depression and anxiety due to tinnitus
- Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs might be suggested to handle your mood
Looking for Tinnitus Treatment? Visit Klavo Clinic Today
Klavo Clinic is one of the best clinics for tinnitus and we have senior speciality doctors. We offer advanced Diagnostic services like endoscopy, lab, ultrasonography, X-Ray, etc. We are available at your convenient timings and you can schedule an appointment as per your choice. To schedule an appointment, call us now.