Often described as the ‘ringing in the ears,’ tinnitus is a medical condition where one gets a sensation of constant buzzing, whistling, chirping, or relatively any alien sounds made inside their ears. The noise, which varies in loudness, can either be intermittent or constant, depending on one’s situation. Tinnitus is most prevalent among women and the elderly.

Majority of people, who have tinnitus often go unnoticed by others, as only they can hear the sounds. They even get worse when you do not have any background noise, such as during the night. To some extent, some people are affected by a particular type of the condition which sounds as if it is in sync with your pulse rates (pulsatile tinnitus).

 Overview

Contrary to popular beliefs, tinnitus is not a disease itself, but it might be one of the symptoms to another underlying condition. Moreover, some people believe that tinnitus causes hearing loss or vice versa.

However, this is just a symptom for an underlying condition such as ear injuries, age-related hearing loss, or it might be due to a circulatory system disorder. Although this is a bothersome condition one might have, it does not affect their hearing abilities. 

Some people who have tinnitus are hyperacusis, meaning they can become acutely sensitive to any sounds. As much as this sounds like a chronic condition, it can be treated. In most cases, curing the underlying factor can go a great way of making it all go away.

Causes of Tinnitus

People who have prolonged exposure to loud noise are at a higher risk of getting tinnitus. Such loud noises affect the sensitive cells of the cochlea, resulting in tinnitus, or even hearing loss. People such as pilots, airport attendants, carpenters, rock musicians, those who work around with guns, etc. are examples of those whose careers put them at high risk.

Tinnitus in women is majorly related to the times when there is a substantial hormonal variation.

It can be triggered by pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, or PMS. Their symptoms such as mood swings and sweating might correlate with tinnitus.

Some other significant causes of tinnitus include;

• Blockages of the ear due to a buildup of too much wax
• Diseases of the heart or blood vessels
• Certain types of tumors
• Certain medications. Over 200 prescription and non-prescription drugs, such as aspirin are known to cause tinnitus when you either start or stop taking them
• Ear and sinus infections
• The natural aging process which deteriorates some parts of the ear such as the cochlea
• Injuries to the head and neck

Other medical conditions such as; 

• Meniere’s disease 
• Otosclerosis 
• High blood pressure 
• Cardiovascular disease 
• Circulatory problems 
• Anemia 
• Allergies 
• An underactive thyroid gland
• Autoimmune disease 
• Diabetes

The Symptoms of Tinnitus

There are two major types of tinnitus;

• Subjective tinnitus – only you can hear the sounds. This is the most common type of tinnitus as it affects the majority of people.

• Objective tinnitus – this is a type of tinnitus where your doctor can also hear the sounds during an examination. In most cases, the sounds can even be heard when the doctor uses a stethoscope. This rare condition might be caused due to a blood vessel problem, muscle contractions, or a middle ear bone issue.
• Research has it that the symptoms of tinnitus are stronger in women than men. The majority of the symptoms such as ringing, hissing, buzzing, or whistling in the ears is more prevalent in middle-aged women and the elderly. 

It is best to get yourself accessible & affordable tinnitus treatment designed by a specialist doctor when;

• You experience any of the above symptoms, which are persistent. They could be signs of an underlying condition such as high blood pressure.
• The noise is accompanied by drainage and in some instances, pain. This could be a sign of an ear infection which can be treated.
• The noise is accompanied by dizziness. Should this happen, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible as it might a sign of the onset of Meniere’s disease.

Treatment of Tinnitus

A general medical practitioner may make the first assessment when you have tinnitus. Thereafter, you may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, or ENT (otolaryngologist) who is more trained to handle your situation. 

However, depending on the underlying cause or condition which brought forth the tinnitus, you may have to see other medical specialists such as;

• A dentist if you have any dental disorders which brought about the tinnitus, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Gynaecologist if hormonal changes in women cause it
• Cardiologist for heart-related diseases
• Endocrinologist for thyroid conditions
• Neurologist for neck or cervical disorders
• Physical therapist to help in treating infections caused by injury or strain

According to researchers, female patients suffering from tinnitus can gain more through physiotherapy-oriented approaches. Through this, their cognitive stress and self-esteem are consequently strengthened. 

Treating an Underlying Health Condition

As mentioned earlier on, your doctor will find the underlying factor behind the tinnitus and treat it. Some of the common methods doctors deal with tinnitus include wax removal, treating a blood vessel condition, or changing your medication if it was the cause for the tinnitus.

Noise Suppression

Tinnitus can be countered in two ways; either by reducing the amount of noise you are exposed to (if the patient is sensitive to any noise) or by introducing white noise (especially when the symptoms become worse if there are no background sounds). White noise is a simulation of environmental sounds such as rain, thunder, wind, etc.

Hearing aids and masking devices can also become very handy. They help when you also have hearing issues and will even work to produce white noise which suppresses tinnitus symptoms.

Medications

As mentioned, tinnitus is not a disease hence isn’t curable. The underlying factors causing the tinnitus can, however, be treated, making the symptoms all go away. Your doctor may recommend certain drugs which can help in suppressing the symptoms of tinnitus.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

There are adjustments to lifestyle, which can help in reducing the effects of the tinnitus symptoms. Some of the ways to do so include;

• Avoid irritants such as very noisy places
• Cover up the irritations through the white noise
• Manage your stress levels as they can only make things worse
• Reduce alcohol consumption

Get Professional Help

Do not wait until it is too late for you to seek medical advice. You can get an accessible & affordable tinnitus treatment designed by a specialist doctor, for you to live a more comfortable life.