What is tinnitus or noise in my head, what causes it, and what should I do about it?
I'll answer these questions and more in this video.
Hi, I’m Dr. Derek - audiologist, audio engineer, and musician with Pro Fit Hearing.com. If you
have concerns about your hearing, always consult with your local physician or audiologist.
Tinnitus (or tinnitus) may also be referred to as noise in your head, buzzing, or ringing
in the ears.
It’s a sound that only the person with tinnitus hears.
It’s not from sounds occurring in your environment.
Tinnitus might be only noticed occasionally, or it could be a sound that you hear constantly.
You might feel like hear it in both ears or one ear, or you may feel like it sounds like it’s “in
your head”.
Tinnitus is more obvious when you’re in a quiet place.
First, if you have tinnitus consult with your physician and audiologist for an evaluation.
Your provider can make a recommendation on how to best treat tinnitus once the cause
is determined.
Now, let’s talk about possible causes of tinnitus.
#1: Earwax buildup
Do you have a buildup of wax in your ears?
Have your physician take a look in both ears, and ask for an ear cleaning if needed.
Earwax makes existing tinnitus more noticeable because it reduces the volume of sounds around you.
Those environmental sounds may have otherwise helped cover up the tinnitus.
#2: Sensorineural hearing loss Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent damage
to the hair cells inside the ear and varies in severity from mild to profound.
This hair cell damage can be a cause of tinnitus.
You may even experience tinnitus when your hearing test results are in a normal range.
Your hearing may have declined but still be within normal range from -10 to 25 dB for
adults, or there may be hearing loss in the high frequencies above the typically measured
8000 Hz.
#3: Noise exposure Excessive noise can cause sensorineural hearing
loss over time and lead to tinnitus.
You may even notice that your ears ring after a loud concert.
If so, make sure to avoid loud sound or wear hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs.
Your ears may ring right after a loud concert and then stop, however repeated exposure to
loud noise can cause tinnitus to return and not go away.
#4: Eardrum rupture Any time there is a hole in the eardrum and
sound is not transmitting into the ear normally, there can be hearing loss and tinnitus may
be more noticeable.
An eardrum rupture may heal on its own or be patched by an Ear Nose and Throat physician.
See your physician if you experience any ear pain or suspect an ear infection or eardrum
rupture.
#5: Otosclerosis This is an abnormal bone growth in the middle
ear that causes conductive hearing loss.
This restricts how sound transmits through the ear, so tinnitus may be more noticeable.
#6: Eustachian tube dysfunction, ear infection, or middle ear fluid
The Eustachian tube regulates air pressure inside the middle ear.
If this tube does not open and close regularly or if there are any other disruptions to the
middle ear like an ear infection or fluid, this can negatively affect your hearing and
you may notice tinnitus.
An Ear Nose and Throat physician (ENT doctor) can treat this condition.
#7: Cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis
Your physician can diagnose these conditions and provide guidance on how to best treat
them.
Think about when your tinnitus first began and talk with your physician to see if there
is a relationship between your tinnitus and these health conditions.
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me know any questions you have in the comments below.
#8: Ototoxic medications Any medication that's ototoxic, meaning toxic
to the inner ear, may cause sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus.
Make sure to ask your physician if you experience any tinnitus or hearing changes after taking
medication.
#9: Muscle spasms in the middle ear The middle ear is where the eardrum and ear
bones are located.
Any changes in the function of the middle ear can make tinnitus more noticeable.
#10: Acoustic neuroma An acoustic neuroma is a tumor pressing against
hearing and balance nerves.
This can negatively impact hearing and balance and also be a cause of tinnitus.
#11: TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) TMJ can cause pain in the joint connecting
the jaw and skull.
It can also be related to tinnitus.
Consult with your physician or dentist for more guidance on this condition.
#12: Inner ear disorders like Meniere’s and Labyrinthitis
Meniere’s symptoms include tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo/dizziness, and fullness in one
ear.
Labyrinthitis can include tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo/dizziness as well.
Any disorder affecting the inner ear can cause tinnitus.
#13: Concussion/traumatic brain injury (TBI) Any head injury needs immediate medical attention.
Tinnitus onset could be related to this injury.
#14: Head or neck injury Did you have a recent injury or accident with
tinnitus following?
Make sure to be evaluated by a physician ASAP.
Remember that if you experience tinnitus, consult with your physician to rule out any
medical cause.
An audiologist can evaluate your hearing to determine if hearing loss exists.
Your provider can assist you in treatment of the symptoms you experience.
If you’re a hearing aid candidate, there's many options available to help treat tinnitus
as well as hearing loss.
If you’re interested in learning more about today’s latest hearing aid technology, make
sure to check out these other videos on screen now and subscribe for more content like this.
Thanks for watching and I’ll see you in the next video.