5 Common Symptoms Of Tinnitus
When you hear ringing or other sounds in one or both of your ears, the condition is called tinnitus. More often than not, other people are not able to hear the sounds that you can when you experience tinnitus since it is not caused by an outside sound. Tinnitus is a frequent issue. About 15% to 20% of people experience it, and it becomes more common as we age. Tinnitus is typically a result of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss brought on by aging, an ear injury, or a circulatory issue. When the underlying cause of tinnitus is treated or other therapies are used to lessen or cover up the noise, tinnitus often gets better for most people. Learn more about the most common symptoms of Tinnitus.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
With tinnitus, there is usually no external sound present, and it is most frequently described as a ringing in the ears. However, tinnitus can also result in other ear-related phantom noises, such as:
- Roaring
- Buzzing
- Hissing
- Clicking
- Humming
Subjective tinnitus, or tinnitus that only you can hear, is the most common type of tinnitus. You may experience tinnitus in one or both ears, and the noise can range in pitch from a low roar to a high screech. Sometimes the noise can be so loud that it makes it difficult for you to focus or hear outside noise. Tinnitus could be constant or it might come and go. Rarely, tinnitus can sound like a pulsing or whooshing pattern, frequently synchronized with your heartbeat. The term for this is pulsatile tinnitus. When performing an examination, your doctor might be able to hear your tinnitus if it is pulsatile (objective tinnitus).
Causes of Tinnitus
- Hearing Loss
Your inner ear (cochlea), which contains tiny, sensitive hair cells, vibrates in response to sound waves. Electrical signals are set off by these movements and travel up the nerve from your ear to your brain (auditory nerve). These signals are interpreted as sound by your brain. As you get older or are frequently exposed to loud noises, the hairs inside your inner ear might become twisted or broken, which can "leak" random electrical impulses to your brain and result in tinnitus.
- Ear Canal Blockage or Ear Infection
A buildup of fluid (ear infection), earwax, dirt, or other foreign objects can cause your ear canals to get blocked. Tinnitus can be brought on by an obstruction that alters the pressure in your ear.
- Neck or Head Injuries
Injury to the neck or head to a certain degree can have an impact on the hearing nerves, inner ear, or hearing-related brain functions. Tinnitus is typically only present in one ear after such injuries.
- Medications