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Tinnitus

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.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external noise is actually present. It is a symptom (not a disease) indicating that something is wrong in the auditory system, which includes the ear, and is often described as a ringing in the ears or a roaring, clicking, hissing or buzzing sound. It can affect one or both ears.

What Causes It?

It is a symptom that is usually the result of a number of health conditions, such as:

  • Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
  • Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)
  • Ear and Sinus Infections
  • Earwax Blockage
  • Head and Neck Injuries
  • Disease of the Heart or Blood Vessels
  • Ménière’s Disease
  • Medications
  • Brain Tumors
  • Hormonal Changes in Women
  • Thyroid Abnormalities

At SCENT, your audiologist will help you explore potential causes that are triggering your symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms?

People who suffer from it have varying symptoms, but often describe the sounds they perceive in one of three ways:

  1. Tonal – a continuous sound with well-defined frequencies.
  2. Pulsatile – a pulsing sound, like that of a heartbeat.
  3. Musical – a music or singing sound on a continuous loop.

Whatever symptoms people experience, the impact on one’s daily life is significant and may cause secondary symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and pain. Others may have difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and many report that the condition often disrupts their ability to work and socialize.

Are There Risk Factors?

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 (i.e., factory workers, construction workers, military service, and the music industry). Other factors that may increase a person’s risk for developing it include age, smoking, and cardiovascular problems.

Are There Different Types of Tinnitus?

There are two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. Subjective is the most common type and refers to head or ear noises that only the patient hears. Objective 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.

Is There a Cure?

Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus for patients with chronic (ongoing) symptoms (i.e., people with sensorineural hearing loss). However, for patients who have an acute (temporary) case, they may see that symptoms go away over time with proper treatment.

What Treatments Are Available?

No matter the degree or severity of it, there are treatment options available to help patients experience a better quality of life. If you believe you’re experiencing symptoms of tinnitus and want to learn more, read our article about treatments for tinnitus.

What Should I Do if I Have It?

If you think you have tinnitus, contact SCENT at (661) 259-2500 to schedule an appointment with our one of our audiologists. As part of the consultation, the audiologist will examine your ears first to see if anything is blocking your ear canals, such as earwax, and will ask you about your current health, medical conditions, and medications to find out if any underlying condition is causing your tinnitus.

Footnote:

  1. Based on calculations performed by NIDCD Epidemiology and Statistics Program staff: (1) tinnitus prevalence was obtained from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS); (2) the estimated number of American adults reporting tinnitus was calculated by multiplying the prevalence of tinnitus by the 2013 U.S. Census population estimate for the number of adults (18+ years of age).
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