Tinnitus

What we know and what we can do to help

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The Main Causes of Tinnitus

Hearing Loss

Many patients that have hearing loss and tinnitus. Tinnitus is a symptom of hearing loss, however not all tinnitus patients have hearing loss.

Noise

Too much exposure to loud noise can cause noise-induced hearing loss as well as tinnitus.

Ototoxicity

More than 200 medicines can cause hearing loss. Ask your primary physician or pharmacist

Other Health Issues

Allergies, tumors, cardiovascular issues, TMJ ( jaw clicking or grinding) or just wax in the ears can potentially cause tinnitus.

Defining Tinnitus

Tinnitus (pronounced “tin-it-tus”) is an abnormal noise in the ear.  Tinnitus is extremely common – nearly 36 million Americans have tinnitus. More than half of the normal population has intermittent tinnitus.

About 6% of the general population has what they consider to be “severe” tinnitus. It can sound like a low roar, a high-pitched ring or a variety of other sounds. Many times this sound is intermittent or constant and could be a symptom of other medical issues. Tinnitus may be in both ears or just in one ear.  Seven million Americans are so severely affected that they cannot lead normal lives.

If You Have Tinnitus

One of the most important things to do is to report your tinnitus to your primary physician. He or she can check to see if it is related to blood pressure, kidney function, diet, ear wax, allergies or related to any medicine you are taking.

Does Everyone with Hearing Loss Develop Tinnitus?

Why some people with hearing loss develop tinnitus—a buzzing or ringing sound in the ears in the absence of any real sound—and others don’t has puzzled scientists for years. Almost all cases of tinnitus are preceded by a loss of hearing as the result of damage to the inner ear from aging, injury, or long-term exposure to loud noise, but experts estimate that only a third of those with hearing loss will go on to develop tinnitus.

FAQ About Tinnitus

1. Are there different types of tinnitus?

Types of tinnitus

There are two different categories or types of tinnitus.

Subjective tinnitus is tinnitus only you can hear. This is the most common type of tinnitus. It can be caused by ear problems in your outer, middle or inner ear. It also can be caused by problems with the hearing (auditory) nerves or the part of your brain that interprets nerve signals as sound.

Objective tinnitus (believe it or not) is tinnitus your doctor can hear when he or she does an examination. This rare type of tinnitus may be caused by a blood vessel problem, an inner ear bone condition or muscle contractions.

2. What can cause tinnitus?

There are many causes of tinnitus, here are just a few

  • Ear wax.
  • Exposure to loud noise
  • middle ear infection or fluid
  • injury to the nerve from the ear to the brain, and central nervous system damage.
  • aneurysms,
  • increased pressure in the head (hydrocephalus), and
  • hardening of the arteries.
  • Brain tumors
  • Loud noise both short term and long term. inner ear damage and tinnitus.
  • Medications
3. Who is the typical person suffering from tinnitus?

Of adults ages 65 and older in the United States, 12.3 percent of men and nearly 14 percent of women are affected by tinnitus. Tinnitus is identified more frequently in white individuals and the prevalence of tinnitus is almost twice as frequent in the South as in the Northeast.

4. Is tinnitus always heard in both ears?

Tinnitus can be perceived in both ears, one ear or in some patients in the middle of the head and not in the ear.

Tinnitus Treatments

I have had patients report that there is nothing that can be done to help them. This is completely FALSE!

Treatment includes tinnitus maskers, hearing aids, counseling, and dietary restrictions (reducing caffeine, salt, and stress).

Sound therapy such as Widex Zen hearing aid, or Widex Zen to Go, or Neuromonics are various options to help you work with your tinnitus.

Don't Wait Any Longer. Start Your Path to Better Hearing Today!

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