TINNITUS AN UNQUITE ISSUE
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears.
Tinnitus can be frustrating. Sometimes, the sounds you hear can interfere with hearing real sounds around you. Tinnitus can occur with depression, anxiety, and stress
FACTS ABOUT TINNITUS
.Here are some central issues about tinnitus.
.Around 50 million Americans experience some type of tinnitus.
.Most tinnitus is because of harm to the cochlea, or internal ear.
.Certain meds can cause or compound tinnitus, for instance, anti-inflamatory medicine, especially in enormous dosages.
.Individuals with tinnitus might be over-touchy to uproarious commotion.
.The vast majority figure out how to live with tinnitus, however help is accessible for the individuals who locate this troublesome…
CAUSES
Tinnitus (pronounced tin-NY-tus or TIN-u-tus) is not a disease. It is a symptom 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. Something as simple as a piece of earwax blocking the ear canal can cause tinnitus. But it can also be the result of a number of health conditions, such as:
- Noise-induced hearing loss
- Ear and sinus infections
- Diseases of the heart or blood vessels
- Ménière’s disease
- Brain tumors
- Hormonal changes in women
- Thyroid abnormalities
TREATMENT
The first step is to treat any underlying cause of tinnitus.
This may involve:
- prompt care for an ear infection
- discontinuing any ototoxic medications
- treating any temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, which affect the joint between the jaw bone and the cheek bone
There is no cure for most cases of tinnitus. Most people become accustomed to it and learn to tune it out. Ignoring it rather than focusing on it can provide relief.
When this does not work, the individual may benefit from treatment for the effects of tinnitus, insomnia, anxiety, hearing difficulties, social isolation, and depression. Dealing with these issues can significantly improve a person’s quality of life.
DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor will examine your ears and conduct a hearing test to diagnose tinnitus. An audiologist will transmit sounds through a set of headphones to one ear at a time. You’ll respond visibly by raising your hand or making a similar gesture when you hear each sound.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose the cause of your tinnitus by comparing what you can hear to what people of your age and sex should be able to hear.
Your doctor may also use imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans, to see if you have deformities or damage to your ears. Standard plain film X-rays don’t always show tumors, blood vessel disorders, or other abnormalities that can affect your hearing.
HOME REMEDIES
Here are some other things a person can do to manage tinnitus and its effects.
Sound therapy uses external noise to mask the individual’s perception of tinnitus. Low-level background music, white noise, or specialized ear maskers can help.
The choice of sound should be pleasant to the individual. Masking devices offer temporary relief, and the awareness of tinnitus returns when the sound therapy is turned off.
Hearing aids are a common type of sound therapy. They amplify environmental sounds and redirect attention to those noises instead of the tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) involves retraining the auditory system to accept the abnormal sounds of tinnitus as natural rather than disruptive.
It involves help from a trained professional and wearing a device that emits low-level white noise. Ongoing counseling sessions can help people cope with the tinnitus.
This therapy’s success is proportionate to the severity of the tinnitus and the individual’s overall mental health
Follow-up studies suggest that TRT provides relief for around 80 percent of people with tinnitus.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help relieve depression in people with tinnitus, although it does not appear to reduce the sound.
OTHER TREATMENT POSSIBLITIES
Drug therapy
Drug therapy can also help reduce the sounds you hear in your ears. Tricyclic antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, including Xanax, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline, can lessen the ear sounds in some cases. However, not everyone responds to drug therapy and the side effects can be bothersome.
Side effects of medications used to treat tinnitus may include:
- nausea
- fatigue
- constipation
- blurry vision
In rare cases, these medications can also cause heart problems.
FAQs
What should I do if I have tinnitus?
The first thing is to see your primary care doctor, who will check if anything, such as ear wax, is blocking the ear canal. Your doctor will ask you about your current health, medical conditions, and medications to find out if an underlying condition is causing your tinnitus.
** What if the sounds in my ear do not go away?**
Some people find their tinnitus doesn’t go away or it gets worse. In some cases it may become so severe that you find it difficult to hear, concentrate, or even sleep. Your doctor will work with you to help find ways to reduce the severity of the noise and its impact on your life.