An annoying ringing or buzzing sound in the ear is known as Tinnitus. This can occur without warning and for no particular reason. This irritating problem can be constant, intermittent or pulsating and can be the result of a more serious underlying condition such as an infection. While this is most commonly found to be a chronic disorder, it can be managed with proper treatments and methods.
Tinnitus comes from the Latin word tinnitus which means ringing. It has been a peculiar problem for thousands of years with many varieties of treatments resulting from its existence. This condition can either be unilateral meaning one ear or bilateral meaning both ears.
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:
There is no specific treatment for tinnitus. You may have it for life or it could leave on its own, but you can introduce other noises into your environment that will allow you to not focus on the ringing in your ears.
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.
The noise of tinnitus can also be lessened by not concentrating on it. The more you think about it the more you hear it and the louder it gets. It can be masked by having some other sound in the room such as a fan, or anything that will cause another sound in the room other than that incessant ringing or buzzing you hear. This “white noise” is very effective in decreasing the sound of ringing in your ears.
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 Signs Of Hearing Loss with others. She has more articles including Conductive Hearing Loss Causes on Clivir.com.
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