Is it normal to hear high-pitched noise in silence?
Ringing in your ears, like a ringing bell, can be a warning
to pay attention to the signs.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, begins in the inner ear.
It is most commonly caused by injury to or loss of sensory hair cells in the
cochlea, or inner ear.
Tinnitus can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including
ocean-related sounds, ringing, buzzing, clicking, hissing, or whooshing. The
sound can be in one or both ears, continuous or intermittent, loud or soft. It
is often more visible at night when you are not distracted by your job or family. It
is frequently linked to hearing loss.
And it's more common than you'd think. According to the
National Institute on Deafness and Hearing Disorders, around 10% of the adult
population in the United States has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five
minutes in the recent year.
"That's not life-threatening, and it's more of a sign
of other disorders than a sickness in and of itself," explains
otolaryngologist Ashok Jagasia, MD, Ph.D. "The irritating sound can cause
despair, anxiety, and/or insomnia in some people."
of tinnitus and headache
What causes tinnitus? The ringing is caused by the cochlea, a region of your inner ear that resembles a snail shell. Tinnitus could be affected by changes in the nerve activity of the cochlea.
Any one of the following can trigger these changes:
- Loud noises such as jackhammers, chainsaws, & loud music
- A concussion or brain injury
- Wax accumulation in your ears
- Many drugs, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and blood pressure meds
- Antibiotics and certain medications
- Meniere's disease is an inner-ear ailment that may be caused by fluids in the ear.
with tinnitus tips
Tinnitus may go gone on its own at times, but it is
Although there is no cure, there are several coping
strategies you can attempt. Jagasia proposes ten strategies in this section:
about cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT).
CBT sessions will teach you how to adjust your reaction to
tinnitus by reframing the issue. CBT also can help with tinnitus-related
despair and anxiety, as well as teach you breathing & muscle relaxation
a hearing aid evaluation.
Tinnitus can be covered by increasing the level of external
noises. If an audiogram indicates that you have considerable hearing loss, you
also may benefit from hearing aids.
wax from your ears (but not at home).
"Doctors can remove ear wax with a microscope and a
little tool," Jagasia says. "Do not attempt to remove it by yourself
or your child. Using a cotton swab to remove it tends to push the wax deeper
into the ear canal, making matters worse."
WE FREQUENTLY FIND SIGNIFICANT HEARING LOSS WITH THE RINGING
IN PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60.
some "white noise"
Creating a background hum, especially at night, can help to
mask the sound of tinnitus. In the winter, for example, use a cooling
humidifier, and in the summer, a fan or air conditioner.
Soft music diverts your attention away from the ringing.
away from caffeine
Caffeine might raise
your blood pressure, which makes your tinnitus more visible.
Examine your medications
"It is indeed fine to take ibuprofen every now and
then, but taking too much of it too frequently can produce tinnitus. Perhaps
there are other options for treating your discomfort "According to
Acupuncture and some other alternative medical treatments have provided healing for some patients.
Several people benefit from taking lipoflavinoid, or vitamin
B6, supplements so over counter for six to eight weeks.
If you know you'll be using or near noisy equipment, such as
a chainsaw or lawnmower, use earplugs to protect your ears.
can you seek tinnitus treatment?
If the ringing continues for many weeks, make an appointment
with your health care physician. You may be referred to an ENT specialist, who
will conduct a hearing test known as an audiogram.
"This helps us determine whether there is nerve-related
hearing loss along with the tinnitus," Jagasia explains. "We
frequently find considerable hearing loss with ringing in patients over the age
Consult a doctor right once if you are dizzy, have total
hearing loss in one ear, or have vertigo symptoms in addition to the ringing —
a combination of symptoms that might indicate Meniere's disease.
Some other potentially significant red flag: pulsatile tinnitus, or hearing your heartbeat whooshing. Other serious conditions, such as a benign tumor, middle ear infections, high blood pressure, blocked arteries, or stroke, might induce this sensation. If this happens to you, Jagasia advises you to contact your doctor right away.
"It is indeed common for us to experience ringing in
our ears as we become older," he explains. "Tinnitus is usually not
dangerous, but it might interfere with your daily life. The good news is that
our bodies may be trained to disregard it."
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