Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present. Commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears”. Tinnitus can manifest many different perceptions of sound including: buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing and clicking. Tinnitus can be either an acute (temporary) condition or a chronic (ongoing) health malady.
Tinnitus is a common health problem affecting millions of individuals yearly.
SYMPTOMS:
In most cases tinnitus is a subjective noise, meaning that only the person experiencing it can hear it. Individuals describe many different sounds. Use the links below to hear some of the sounds commonly described by affected individuals.
Only 0.01% of tinnitus patients have objective symptoms (where both patient and physician can hear it) Arteriolosclerosis of the carotid artery and more commonly a cramp of the middle ear muscle (musculus tensor
Tinnitus Sound 1: 4000 Hz Tone
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ATA 4000 Hz Tone
Tinnitus Sound 2: 7500 Hz Tone
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ATA 7500 Hz Tone
Tinnitus Sound 3: Tea Kettle
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ATA Tea Kettle
Tinnitus Sound 4: Buzzing or Cicada
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ATA Buzzing or Cicada
Tinnitus Sound 5: Static
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ATA Static
Tinnitus Sound 6: Screeching
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ATA Screeching
Tinnitus Sound 7: Electric
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ATA Electric
Tinnitus Sound 8: Roaring
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ATA RoaringCAUSES:Tinnitus is a symptom not a disease. It is a symptom of some other underlying condition. In most cases tinnitus is a sensorineural reaction in the brain to damage in the ear and auditory system. While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, there are roughly 200 different health disorders that can generate tinnitus as a symptom. Tinnitus is often an early warning symptom that something else is going on.Individuals experiencing tinnitus should see their health care provider or ENT/hearing specialist for a full examination to diagnose the underlying cause of symptoms. This may include blood work, u/s. In most cases, resolving the underlying cause will eliminate the perception of tinnitus.Hearing loss:Sensorineural hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus. The hearing loss can be the result of:
- Age related hearing loss: hearing deteriorates as people age, typically this is noticeable after age 60. This tends to be bilateral and usually involves the sensory loss of high frequency sounds.
- Noise induced hearing loss: exposure to loud noise wither in a single (traumatic) experience or over time can damage the auditory system and result in hearing loss/tinnitus. Noise induced hearing loss is sometimes unilateral (only one ear affected) and typically causes individuals to lose hearing around the frequency of the triggering sound trauma.
A trained ENT or other hearing professional can perform sensitive audiometric test to precisely measure the trues extend of hearing loss.
The exact biological process by which hearing loss is associated with tinnitus is still being investigated. We do know that the loss of certain sound frequencies leads to specific changes in how the brain processes sound. As the brain receives less external stimuli around a specific frequency it begins to adapt and change. Tinnitus may be the brains way of filling in the missing sound frequencies it no longer receives from the auditory system.
Obstruction of the Middle Ear:
Blockage of the ear canal can cause pressure to build up in the inner ear, affecting the operation of the eardrum. Also, objects touching the eardrum can irritate the organ and cause the perception of tinnitus symptoms. Examples of common “blockage” can include: Excessive earwax/head congestion/loose hair from the ear canal/dirt or foreign objects. Your ENT can inspect and remove these irritants safely and effectively. NEVER TRY TO REMOVE YOURSELF WITH Q-TIPS OR OTHER OBJECTS AS THIS CAN CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE EAR.
Head and neck trauma:
Injury to the head or neck can cause nerve, blood flow and muscle issues that result in the perception of tinnitus. (More information to come)
Tempo mandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ):
The TMJ Joint Is Where The Lower Jaw Connects To The Skull And Is Located In Front Of The Ears. Damage To The Muscles, Ligaments Or Cartilage In The TMJ Can Lead To Tinnitus Symptoms. (The TMJ Is Adjacent To The Auditory System And Shares Some Ligaments And Nerve Connections With Structures In The Middle Ear). This Is Often Associated With Pain In Both The Face And The Jaw/Limited Ability To Move The Jaw And Irregular Popping Sounds While Chewing Or Talking. Fixing The TMJ Disorder Will Usually Alleviate The Tinnitus Symptoms. Referral To A Qualified Chiropractor May Help Resolve Some Of These Issues. (LINK to name……….)
Sinus pressure/Barotrauma
Nasal congestion from a sinus cold/flu or sinus infection can create abnormal pressure in the middle ear impacting hearing and causing tinnitus symptoms. Acute barotrauma caused by extreme or rapid changes in air or water pressure can also damage the middle/inner ear. SEE AN ENT FOR ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IF YOU SUSPECT BAROTRAUMA.
Other examples of conditions affecting normal function of the auditory system are: Traumatic brain injury/ototoxic drugs and several less common disorders like autoimmune disorders/blood vessel disorders/stress and vestibular disorders (Meniere’s disease).
Only a trained health care provider can appropriately diagnose the underlying cause of tinnitus.
Management and Treatment
The first steps in treating tinnitus is appropriately diagnosing and measuring it. If you experience an acute onset of Tinnitus, see a trained ENT as soon as possible.
There are several tools available for a trained Health care provider to effectively evaluate and treat tinnitus
Audiometric evaluation for hearing loss and tinnitus: General tools include speech recognition tests/pure tone audiogram/tympanogram/acoustic reflex testing/optoacoustic/emission testing. There are many tools available to the trained healthcare professional for evaluation and management of tinnitus.
Treatment Options:
There are several well established therapies for patients struggling with chronic tinnitus.
These include but are not limited to: General wellness/hearing aids/sound therapy/behavioral therapies/medication/TMJ treatment/experimental therapies.