Normally referred to as a “ringing in the ears”, tinnitus is a perception of any kind of noise when none is actually present. This can include ringing, buzzing, hissing, swooshing or clicking. In certain rare cases, some patients have even heard music. It is a common problem that affects over 50 million Americans—12 million of whom need medical treatment for it—and is actually a symptom of an underlying condition, such as an injury to the ear or a circulatory system disorder.
What are the different kinds of tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be a temporary issue or a chronic one, and is classified into two types:
- Subjective tinnitus, which is sound only the patient can hear. It is the most common of the two types, and can be the result of issues with the outer, middle or inner ear. Other causes can include problems with the auditory (hearing) nerves or the section of the brain that turns nerve signals into sound.
- Objective tinnitus, a rare form of tinnitus—which makes up less than one percent of all reported tinnitus cases— that a physician can hear when an exam is performed. It may be due to muscle contractions, a blood vessel issue or a middle ear problem.
How is the cause of tinnitus diagnosed?
Since tinnitus is an indication of another problem, physicians are able to figure out the cause by ruling others out. This can be done by:
- Performing a hearing exam using soundproof headphones to play specific sounds in one ear at a time, and the results are taken and compared to those within a normal hearing range
- Moving the eyes, jaw, neck, arms and legs in certain ways to see if the tinnitus worsens or changes in any way
- Undergoing imaging tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
In addition to the testing, the sounds patients hear can also contribute to confirming a diagnosis:
- Clicking may be indicative of muscle contractions in and around the ear if the sound comes in bursts that last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
- High-pitched ringing is normally the result of exposure to a loud sound, injury to the ear, medication or long-term noise exposure.
- Humming or rushing are usually due to a vascular disorder and may be more prominent following exercise or after changing positions, such as from lying down to standing.
- Low-pitched ringing in one ear could mean conditions like Meniere’s disease are present. Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus.
It is worth noting that in most cases the cause of tinnitus is never actually found.
Is the source of tinnitus is never discovered, how can it be treated?
Covering Up the Noise
In certain situations, white noise devices may help make tinnitus less bothersome. These can include:
- Hearing aids to help with hearing issues due to tinnitus.
- Masking devices that are worn in the ear like a hearing aid and create a continuous low-level white noise
- Tinnitus retraining devices that are programmed with tonal music to mask the specific sound a patient may be experiencing. This is often coupled with counseling to make it successful.
- White noise machines—that can play pleasing environmental sounds like rain or ocean waves— including other machines that may cover the noise, such as a fan, humidifier or air conditioner.
No matter what, the best way for patients to avoid tinnitus is to practice prevention. This means that hearing protection should be worn in loud situations (e.g., working with loud machinery), music should be listened to at a reasonable level and cardiovascular health should always be a priority (e.g., exercising, eating right).
As always, and most importantly, patients should speak to an audiologist if they have a concern about their hearing health.
Come to the Hearing Specialists
At Sonora Hearing Care, our experts are the leaders in the treatment, diagnosis and continued care of hearing difficulties. From evaluation to implant testing and mapping, we are committed to providing the best care possible in a warm, inviting environment.
To schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, contact us today.