Tinnitus

Hearing sounds that only you can hear is called tinnitus, which is a symptom of many diseases and it could reduce the quality of life.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is hearing sounds that fill the head, and nobody else can hear them. Tinnitus is usually a symptom of other health conditions, and it’s very common, affecting 15-20% of people worldwide.

Causes of tinnitus

• Hearing loss due to aging: normally, the hair cells inside the ears move when receiving sound waves in order to trigger the nerve signals from the ear to the brain. Due to aging, these hairs break or bend, and this might cause them to send random signals to the brain, causing tinnitus.
• Noise-induced hearing loss.
• Ear problems, such as infections and earwax blockage.
• Head or neck injuries.
• Certain medications, like some antibiotics, depression drugs, cancer drugs, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Some less common causes include: Meniere’s disease, Eustachian tube dysfunction, tumors, bone changes, blood vessel disorders, some chronic illnesses like diabetes, migraines, anemia, and thyroid problems, and certain autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of tinnitus

• The most commonly described sound is ringing in the ears.
• Other noises might include buzzing, clicking, roaring, humming, hissing, and rarely rhythmic pulsing.

Diagnosis of tinnitus

• Evaluating the symptoms.
• Hearing exam.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of tinnitus

• Treating tinnitus depends on the cause.
• Tinnitus might not be cured in many cases; therefore, the doctor might recommend using devices like white noise machines (produce sounds similar to the surrounding environment) or masking devices (worn inside the ears.)