Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus (literally “ringing” in Latin) is characterized by ringing, buzzing, or noises that originate in the ear or the head, and can cause discomfort and stress.
Though this condition is usually not dangerous, it is often a symptom of another health problem or underlying condition. Tinnitus can cause many stressful side effects, including fatigue, sleep problems, concentration difficulty, memory problems, depression, anxiety, and irritability.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus may have several underlying causes. Your doctor may begin investigating the condition by first finding out what kind of tinnitus you suffer from. There are two general types of tinnitus: subjective and objective tinnitus.
Subjective tinnitus (most common type of tinnitus) means that only you can hear the noise or ringing in your ears. Objective tinnitus means that it may be possible for your physician to also hear the noise or ringing while performing an exam.
Your doctor will take a detailed history of your health and medications, perform a thorough examination, and possibly order a hearing test or conduct other tests of the auditory system.
Possible causes of tinnitus include:
- Hearing loss
- Exposure to loud noise
- Earwax buildup
- Abnormal bone growth in the ear
- Meniere’s disease
- Stress and depression
- Head or neck injuries
- Benign tumor of the cranial nerve
- Long-term aspirin use
- Side effect of medication(s)
In some cases, the exact cause of the tinnitus may not be found but serious underlying conditions can be ruled out.
How is Tinnitus Treated?
Tinnitus sometimes resolves on its own. Tinnitus is most often treated by addressing the underlying condition. Depending on the individual case, some tinnitus treatments may include:
- Magnesium, zinc
- Vitamin B supplementation
- Homeopathic remedies
- Acupuncture
- Cranial-sacral therapy
- Magnets
- Hyperbaric oxygen
- Hypnosis
- Hearing aids
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
- Habituation Therapy
It is important to note that there is not one treatment that will work for each individual, which is why our Doctors take great care during the case history and diagnostic testing to provide the best treatment options for your specific case.
Sound therapy is another great option that can help lessen the severity of tinnitus. Sound therapy involves the use of a sound-generating device as part of an overall program designed by an audiologist or hearing specialist that includes informational counseling and other activities to help ease the stress of tinnitus. Sound therapy includes an individual regimen of listening to specific sounds such as soothing tones or customized music through headphones to help re-focus the auditory system.
In general, tinnitus treatments may not make the tinnitus disappear completely, but they may make it less noticeable and ease your stress and anxiety from it. Speak with your hearing specialist about the best tinnitus treatment option for you.