Are you hearing a long ringing sound with no real external source? This could be a warning sign of tinnitus.
Ringing in the ear can make us nervous. And when the reason is unknown, it becomes even more annoying. Also, these things are not to be taken lightly as they can be warning signs of a condition called Tinnitus. What is tinnitus? Tinnitus occurs when you hear ringing or other sounds in one or both ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus is unlikely to be heard by many people because it is not caused by external sounds. Tinnitus is a common complaint. It affects between 15 and 20 percent of people, with older people being more likely to be affected.
Dr. Prateek Nayak, ENT Consultant and Surgery, at CMI Aster Hospital, Bangalore, shared the signs, symptoms and possible causes of the same.
What is ringing, tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a common problem in which a person experiences a ringing, roaring, clicking, or buzzing sound in the ears. This sound can be soft, loud, low-pitched, or high-intensity, and is often not audible to others. Although this condition may not affect you much initially, if left untreated it can worsen and affect your quality of life.
Causes of tinnitus
It is important to understand that tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom indicating hearing ailments. Any abnormality in the auditory system, such as the ear, the auditory nerves, and the parts of the brain that process sound waves, can cause tinnitus. Other conditions that can also lead to tinnitus include:
- Age: People over the age of 65 are affected by tinnitus.
- Excess earwax buildup: Excess earwax can sometimes clog the ear canal and cause temporary tinnitus and hearing problems.
- External entities stuck in the ear: Foreign objects such as pens, caps, and pencil tips can get stuck in the ear while cleaning it. These objects can further damage the eardrum, which can lead to tinnitus.
- Loud noise leading to hearing loss: Exposure to sudden or continuous loud noise can damage the sensory hair cells in the inner ear, which are responsible for transmitting sound waves to the brain. This damage can eventually cause tinnitus. Typically, people who work in noisy environments such as factories, construction sites, or musicians can experience tinnitus if they work without proper protective equipment.
- Meniere’s disease: This is a chronic ear disorder that causes tinnitus along with hearing loss and balance problems.
- Runny nose and congestion: These conditions are known to cause tinnitus and ear pain.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders: Any inflammation in the joints or the muscles surrounding the joints can lead to the development of continuous ringing in the ear.
- Vascular diseases: A defect in the blood vessels that supply blood to the head and neck can cause rhythmic pulsing sounds in the ears.
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma): This is a non-cancerous tumor that affects the nerves connected to the brain’s inner ear, causing tinnitus and balance problems.
- Medicines: The medications have various side effects and some can also cause tinnitus as a side effect.
Tinnitus Preventions:
Tinnitus is often an underlying condition and is accompanied by age-related hearing loss, an ear injury, or a problem with the circulatory system. Therefore, to avoid this condition, you must protect your ears from external irritants and hearing systems. Also, you should avoid exposure to loud noise and you should wear earplugs if you are working with machines.
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