What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the conscious perception of sound in the absence of an external source. It has been
described as ringing, buzzing, humming, roaring, waterfall, and sizzling. Each person’s is
unique and will affect each individual differently.
Tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom that something is wrong in the auditory system, which
includes the ear, the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, and the parts of the
brain that process sound. Something as simple as a piece of earwax blocking the ear canal can
cause tinnitus.
What causes tinnitus?
The onset of tinnitus can be associated with exposure to loud noise (both impulsive or longterm), certain medications, and trauma to the head or neck, to name a few. It can also occur unrelated to an event. But it can also be the result of a number of health conditions, such as:
• Noise-induced hearing loss
• Ear and sinus infections
• Diseases of the heart or blood vessels
• Meniere’s disease
• Brain tumours
• Hormonal changes in women
• Thyroid abnormalities
Tinnitus is sometimes the first sign of hearing loss in older people. It also can be a side effect
of medications.
People who work in noisy environments—such as factory or construction workers, road crews,
or even musicians—can develop tinnitus over time when ongoing exposure to noise damages
tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear that help transmit sound to the brain. This is called noiseinduced hearing loss.
Service members exposed to bomb blasts can develop tinnitus if the shock wave of the
explosion squeezes the skull and damages brain tissue in areas that help process sound.
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rare type of tinnitus that sounds like a rhythmic pulsing in the ear, usually
in time with your heartbeat. A doctor may be able to hear it by pressing a stethoscope against
your neck or by placing a tiny microphone inside the ear canal. This kind of tinnitus is most
often caused by problems with blood flow in the head or neck.
Even with all of these associated conditions and causes, some people develop tinnitus for no
obvious reason. Most of the time, tinnitus isn’t a sign of a serious health problem, although if
it’s loud or doesn’t go away, it can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, and problems with
memory and concentration. For some, tinnitus can be a source of real mental and emotional
anguish.
What should I do if I have tinnitus?
The first thing is to see your primary care doctor, who will check if anything, such as ear wax,
is blocking the ear canal. Your doctor will ask you about your current health, medical
conditions, and medications to find out if an underlying condition is causing your tinnitus.
If your doctor cannot find any medical condition responsible for your tinnitus, you may be
referred to an Otolaryngologist (commonly called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or an ENT).
The ENT will physically examine your head, neck, and ears and test your hearing to determine
whether you have any hearing loss along with the tinnitus. You might also be referred to an
Audiologist who can also measure your hearing and evaluate your tinnitus.
How are balance disorders diagnosed?
The vestibular system is complex and responsible for many of the body’s functions. In order
to narrow down the exact cause of dizziness. Dizziness is one of the most common complaints,
it is a problem that can affect individuals of any age, but it is more of an issue for older adults.
It is necessary to administer a variety of tests. These measure eye movements, head movements,
hearing and more.
Diagnosis of a balance disorder is difficult. To find out if you have a balance problem, your
primary doctor may suggest that you see an Otolaryngologist and an Audiologist. An
Otolaryngologist is a physician and surgeon who specializes in diseases and disorders of the
ear, nose, neck, and throat. An Audiologist is a clinician who specializes in the function of the
hearing and vestibular systems.
Studies indicate vestibular testing is extremely thorough and accurate in identifying inner ear
disorders. Vestibular testing is also helpful in determining whether additional diagnostic
testing, such as an MRI, is needed. We offer a comprehensive battery of tests that are designed
to evaluate a patient's balance system.
How to Measure the Tinnitus?
Tinnitus cannot be measured but can be monitored. The Audiologists try to gather the information from you that can help them determine the issue. They will be asking:
• Which ear is problematic- right or left?
• Is the noise or ringing continuous?
• Can you describe the noise you are facing?
• Is there any pitch in the sound wave? If yes, how is the pitch- high or low?
• Does the pitch keep fluctuating?
• Are you lacking concentration?
• Can be tried to match with external source of sound through an audiometer.
Whenever you will answer these questions, the Audiologist will analyse the answer to draw a conclusion. Once the reasons have been detected, your stress level will be reduced and you will be able to manage and prevent Tinnitus.
Are there treatments that can help me?
Tinnitus does not have a cure yet, but treatments that help many people cope better with the condition are available. Most doctors will offer a combination of the treatments below, depending on the severity of your tinnitus and the areas of your life it affects the most.
• Hearing aids often are helpful for people who have hearing loss along with tinnitus. Using a hearing aid adjusted to carefully control outside sound levels may make it easier for you to hear. The better you hear, the less you may notice your tinnitus.
• Counselling helps you learn how to live with your tinnitus. Most counselling programs have an educational component to help you understand what goes on in the brain to cause tinnitus. Some counselling programs also will help you change the way you think about and react to your tinnitus. You might learn some things to do on your own to make the noise less noticeable, to help you relax during the day, or to fall asleep at night.
• Wearable sound generators are small electronic devices that fit in the ear and use a soft, pleasant sound to help mask the tinnitus. Some people want the masking sound to totally cover up their tinnitus, but most prefer a masking level that is just a bit louder than their tinnitus. The masking sound can be a soft “shhhhhhhhhhh,” random tones, or music.
• Tabletop sound generators are used as an aid for relaxation or sleep. Placed near your bed, you can program a generator to play pleasant sounds such as waves, waterfalls, rain, or the sounds of a summer night. If your tinnitus is mild, this might be all you need to help you fall asleep.
• Acoustic neural stimulation is a relatively new technique for people whose tinnitus is very loud or won’t go away. It uses a palm-sized device and headphones to deliver a broadband acoustic signal embedded in music. The treatment helps stimulate change in the neural circuits in the brain, which eventually desensitizes you to the tinnitus. The device has been shown to be effective in reducing or eliminating tinnitus in a significant number of study volunteers.
• Cochlear implants are sometimes used in people who have tinnitus along with severe hearing loss. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged portion of the inner ear and sends electrical signals that directly stimulate the auditory nerve. The device brings in outside sounds that help mask tinnitus and stimulate change in the neural circuits.
• Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs might be prescribed by your doctor to improve your mood and help you sleep.
• Other medications may be available at drug stores and on the Internet as an alternative remedy for tinnitus, but none of these preparations has been proved effective in clinical trials.
Can I do anything to prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse?
Noise-induced hearing loss, the result of damage to the sensory hair cells of the inner ear, is one of the most common causes of tinnitus. Anything you can do to limit your exposure to loud noise—by moving away from the sound, turning down the volume, or wearing earplugs or earmuffs—will help prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse.
A Final Takeaway
If you fail to detect the reason behind Tinnitus, then it would not be possible for you to get rid of it. Therefore, you should consult an Audiologist, first of all, to identify the reason and treat accordingly.