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 is caused wither 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?
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
more serious middle ear problems
such as infection, a hole in the
eardrum, an accumulation of fluid,
or stiffening (otosclerosis) of the
middle ear bones.
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. It is important to see
an otolaryngologist to investigate
the cause of your tinnitus so that
the best treatment can be
determined.
What's most common?
- For all ages:
- 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,a dn injury to
them brings on hearing loss and
often tinnitus.
- If you're older:
- Advancing age is generally
accompanied by a certain amount
of hearing nerve impairment and
tinnitus.
- If you're younger:
- Exposure to loud noise is
probably the leading cause of
tinnitus and often damages
hearing as well.
The following list of do's 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. It improves
your circulation.
- Get adequate rest. Avoid
fatigue.
- Stop worrying about the
noise. Recognize your nead noise
as an annoyance and learn to
ignore it as much as possible.
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/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.
What Can Help Me Cope?
Concentration and Relaxation
Exercises
Concentration and relaxation
techniques can help 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 us usually more bothersome
in quiet surrounding. 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.
Tinnitus maskers can be combined
within hearing aids. They emit a
competitive but pleasant sound that
can distract you from the 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.
Hearing Aids
If you have a hearing loss, a
hearing aid(s) may reduce head noise
while you are wearing it and
sometimes cause it to go away
temporarily. It is important not to
set the hearing aid at excessively
high 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.
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.
|
