Tinnitus

The term tinnitus refers to ringing in the ears, which can actually range anywhere from a low roar to a high pitched squeal; it can also be present either in one or both ears and may either be continuous or it may come and go. It is a relatively common condition, affecting over 30 million people; some of these people report simply being annoyed by the ringing, while others claim they cannot lead normal lives. Tinnitus is not a disease in and of itself, but a sign of some underlying hearing problem (most often not serious).

Tinnitus is caused by damaged hairs in the fluid-filled cochlea. If the tiny hairs are damaged, they tend to move even when they’re not stimulated by sound waves; their movement sets off electrical charges that reach your brain and which are then interpreted as noise.

There are two types of tinnitus. In subjective tinnitus, only you can hear the ringing in your ears. Objective tinnitus, or pulsatile tinnitus, is characterized by the fact that others may hear the noise, in the form of clicks or crackling; these noises are usually due to either muscle spasms or abnormalities in the blood vessels around your external ear.

Wax buildup in the ear canal can cause temporary tinnitus, while otosclerosis may also cause a more permanent tinnitus. Allergies, extremes in blood pressure, tumors, thyroid problems, diabetes, head or neck trauma and a variety of medications may lead to tinnitus. If you’re taking medication and experiencing tinnitus, speak to your doctor; often, the ringing in your ears ceases if you lower the dose or stop taking the medication.

If there is some underlying cause of the tinnitus that can be treated, then there may be a tinnitus treatment for you. More often than not, however, the exact tinnitus causes cannot be determined and therefore tinnitus treatments don’t exist; you’ll have to cope with the sounds of tinnitus for the rest of your life. There are various remedies for tinnitus that will make the ringing less serious, such as maintaining a healthy blood pressure and avoiding caffeine; some websites also advertise natural cures for tinnitus. Research is being done on drugs that help tinnitus.

While there really is no tinnitus cure, many people suffering from tinnitus find masking helpful. This involves creating a sound that “competes” with the ear and head noise so that the tinnitus is less noticeable. You can create this noise yourself, by turning your radio on and finding some static or you can actually purchase tinnitus maskers; these are devices similar to hearing aids that create white noise or pleasant sounds that aim to mask the tinnitus.

If you’re worried about tinnitus or if you or someone you know suffers from the condition, there are plenty of places to turn to in order to learn more about it. To get more information on tinnitus, visit a support group, like tinnitus groups in Ohio or New York. You can also contact the American Tinnitus Association.