Tinnitus – An Underlying Cause Of Ear Problems!

Approximately 36 million American people are suffering from this tinnitus and among them 7 million American people consider this as a significant problem.

The perceived sensation of sound in the ear in the absence of external sounds is tinnitus. It is a common state that briefly afflicts many people at one or another time.

Tinnitus is not a disease, but it is a symptom of some underlying cause of ear problems such as ear infection, injury from loud noises, and foreign object or wax in the ear.

It can vary in pitch from low roar to high squeal or moan. It can come and go or you may hear the sound continuously. It can affect one ear or both the ears. Some people are so badly affected that they cannot even able to lead normal lives.

There are many reasons for affecting with tinnitus. Mostly, the tinnitus can result from damage to the microscopic endings of the inner ear hearing nerve. Injury to these nerve endings results in hearing loss and in most cases tinnitus.

In older people, advancing age results in some impairment of the hearing loss and leads to tinnitus. On the other hand, if you are younger, exposure to the loud sounds is the main cause of damage to hearing, leading to tinnitus.

Tinnitus also sometimes leads to stiffening of the middle ear bones, also called as otosclerosis.

Drug therapy to treat tinnitus

A drug, which is prescribed to treat hyperactivity and sleep disorders, is also being prescribed to the people suffering from tinnitus.

As a trial part, people with tinnitus are given a two weeks course of modafinil to take everyday at Arkansas University. Researches believe that the tinnitus whistling, buzzing, ringing, etc can be decreased with this therapy.

Although there are different treatments available for tinnitus, no single treatment or combination treatment is proved to be effective for tinnitus. As a result, FDA has not approved any treatment for tinnitus.

If your otolaryngologist finds any specific cause of your tinnitus, then he may be able to remove the noise from your ears, but in order to do so, extensive testing is required, which include x-rays, balance tests, laboratory work, etc. Unfortunately, in most of the cases, the causes cannot be identified.

Since there is no specific treatment available to treat tinnitus, follow these tips to lessen the severity of the disease.

  • The first and foremost thing to follow is avoiding exposure to loud sounds and noises.
  • Regular blood pressure checks are necessary. If your blood pressure is high, then control it as per the directions of your physician.
  • Improve your circulation by regular exercises such as concentration and relaxation exercises.
  • Do not take any stimulants such as tobacco, coffee, tea, cola, etc.
  • Reduce the salt intake as excess salt damages the circulation.
  • Take enough rest and also avoid fatigue.
  • Avoid worrying about the noises and try to ignore the noise as much as possible.

A vital part of treatment is your understanding about tinnitus and its causes. Before proceeding with the treatment, it is necessary for you to have a thorough examination by your otolaryngologist.