Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is actually present. It is a symptom (not a disease) indicating that something is wrong in the auditory system, which includes the ear, the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, and the parts of the brain that process sound. Because the function of the auditory nerve is to carry sound, when it is irritated from any cause, it produces head noise. This phenomenon is similar to the sensation nerves elsewhere. If one pinches the skin, it hurts because the stimulated nerves carry pain sensation.
Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears, but it can also sound like a roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It can affect one or both ears.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), roughly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 25 million Americans, has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.
Noise-induced hearing loss, the result of damage to the sensory hair cells of the inner ear, is one of the most common causes of tinnitus.
Other causes are usually the result of a number of health conditions, including:
At Apex Audiology, your hearing specialist will help you explore potential causes that are triggering your symptoms of tinnitus.
People who suffer from tinnitus have varying symptoms, but often describe the sounds they perceive in one of three ways:
Tinnitus symptoms can have a grave effect on one’s daily life, and as a result may cause secondary symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and pain. For some people, tinnitus also affects sleep and concentration, or their ability to work and socialize.
Men are at a higher risk for developing tinnitus than women because they are often in occupations that expose them to loud noise over an extended period of time (e.g., factory workers, construction workers, military service, and the music industry). Other factors that may increase a person’s risk for developing tinnitus include age, smoking, and cardiovascular problems.
A person may be diagnosed with either subjective or objective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus is the most common type and refers to head or ear noises that only the patient hears. Objective tinnitus is less common than subjective and refers to head or ear noises that are audible to both the patient and others. These sounds are usually produced by internal functions in the body’s circulatory (blood flow) and somatic (musculoskeletal movement) systems.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus for patients with chronic (ongoing) symptoms (e.g., people with a sensorineural hearing loss); however, for patients who have an acute (temporary) case of tinnitus, they may see those symptoms go away over time with proper treatment.
In limiting your exposure to loud noise, you can prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse. You can do this by
ThiThere are several treatment options available to help patients experience a better quality of life, no matter the degree or severity of tinnitus they may have. To learn more about what Apex Audiology can do for you, check out our page on Tinnitus Treatment.s is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
If you think you have tinnitus, contact Apex Audiology at (719) 247-9000 to schedule an appointment with one of our hearing specialists. During your consultation, your hearing specialist will examine your ears first to see if anything is blocking your ear canals, such as ear wax. You will also be asked about your current health, medical conditions, and medications to find out if any underlying condition is causing your tinnitus. For your convenience, you may also Schedule An Appointment online.
