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Tinnitus
I sometimes hear ringing in my ears. Is this unusual?
Not at all. Tinnitus is the name for these head noises, and they are
very common. Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from this discomfort.
Tinnitus may come and go, or you may be aware of a continuous sound. It
can vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal or whine, and you may
hear it in one or both ears. When the ringing is constant, it can be
annoying and distracting. More than seven million people are afflicted so
severely that they cannot lead normal lives.
Can other people hear the noise in my ears?
Not usually, but sometimes they are able to hear a certain type of
tinnitus. This is called "objective tinnitus," and it caused
either by abnormalities in blood vessels around the outside of the ear or
by muscle spasms, which may sound like clicks or crackling inside the
middle ear.
What causes tinnitus?
Most tinnitus comes from damage to the microscopic endings of the
hearing nerve in the inner ear. The health of these nerve endings is
important for acute hearing, and injury to them brings on hearing loss and
often tinnitus. If you are older, advancing age is generally accompanied
by a certain amount of hearing nerve impairment and tinnitus. If you are
younger, exposure to loud noise is probably the leading cause of tinnitus,
and often damages hearing as well.
There are many causes for "subjective tinnitus," the noise
only you can hear. Some causes are not serious (a small plug of wax in the
ear canal might cause temporary tinnitus). Tinnitus can also be a symptom
of stiffening of the middle ear bones (otosclerosis).
Tinnitus may also be caused by allergy, high or low blood pressure
(blood circulation problems), a tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, injury
to the head or neck, and a variety of other causes including medications
such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, sedatives, antidepressants, and
aspirin. If you take aspirin and your ears ring, talk to your doctor about
dosage in relation to your size.
Treatment will be quite different in each case of tinnitus. It is
important to see an otolaryngologist to investigate the cause of your
tinnitus so that the best treatment can be determined.
What is the treatment?
In most cases, there is no specific treatment for ear and head noise.
If your otolaryngologist finds a specific cause of your tinnitus, he or
she may be able to eliminate the noise. But, this determination may
require extensive testing including X-rays, balance tests, and laboratory
work. However, most causes cannot be identified. Occasionally, medicine
may help the noise. The medications used are varied, and several may be
tried to see if they help.
The following list of DOs and DON'Ts can help lessen the severity of
tinnitus:
- Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises.
- Get your blood pressure checked. If it is high, get your doctor's
help to control it.
- Decrease your intake of salt. Salt impairs blood circulation.
- Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola, and tobacco.
- Exercise daily to improve your circulation.
- Get adequate rest and avoid fatigue.
- Stop worrying about the noise. Recognize your head noise as an
annoyance and learn to ignore it as much as possible.
What can help me cope with tinnitus?
Concentration and relaxation exercises can help to control
muscle groups and circulation throughout the body. The increased
relaxation and circulation achieved by these exercises can reduce the
intensity of tinnitus in some patients.
Masking. Tinnitus is usually more bothersome in quiet
surroundings. A competing sound at a constant low level, such as a ticking
clock or radio static (white noise), may mask the tinnitus and make it
less noticeable. Products that generate white noise are also available
through catalogs and specialty stores.
Hearing Aids. If you have a hearing loss, a hearing aid(s) may
reduce head noise while your are wearing it and sometimes cause it to go
away temporarily. It is important not to set the hearing aid at
excessively loud levels, as this can worsen the tinnitus in some cases.
However, a thorough trial before purchase of a hearing aid is advisable if
your primary purpose is the relief of tinnitus.
Tinnitus maskers can be combined within hearing aids. They emit
a competitive but pleasant sound that can distract you from head noise.
Some people find that a tinnitus masker may even suppress the head noise
for several hours after it is used, but this is not true for all users.
Summary
Prior to any treatment of tinnitus or head noise, it is important that
you have a thorough examination and evaluation by your otolaryngologist.
An essential part of your treatment will be your understanding of tinnitus
and its causes.
© 2000 AAO-HNS, Inc. This
leaflet is published as a public service by the American Academy of
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Inc., One Prince Street,
Alexandria VA 22314-3357
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