Tinnitus Information & Guide
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is when you hear sounds like ringing or clicking, but it isn’t an external sound. In some situations like pulsatile tinnitus the noise may be able to be heard through a stethoscope.
SYMPTOMS OF TINNITUS
Tinnitus is noises that you can only hear internally, it may be a constant sound or it may come and go overtime or it may be present only at specific times. Some of the noises may sound like:
- Ringing
- Clicking
- Roaring
- Whooshing
- Hissing
- Heartbeat
Pulsatile Tinnitus
Pulsatile tinnitus occurs when you can hear a rhythmical noise that beats at the same rate as the heart and is the sound of blood circulating the body. Unlike regular tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus has a physical source and this can be confirmed by feeling your pulse as you listen to the sound of your tinnitus. Some of the main causes of pulsatile tinnitus can be:
- Increased blood flow
- Turbulent blood flow
- Heightened awareness
CAUSES OF TINNITUS
Tinnitus is not a disease, but is most likely a symptom of an underlying condition or can be a side effect of a medication that you are taking. Below we have listed some of the potential causes of tinnitus:
Stress & anxiety
It is unclear whether stress causes the onset of tinnitus, but tinnitus may be more noticeable if you are stressed or are experiencing anxiety.
Hearing loss
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The gradual change can cause hearing loss, which makes tinnitus more noticeable as it is not masked by external sound.
Ear wax buildup
Depending on the individual ear wax can build up overtime and can cause tinnitus. You can learn more about ear wax removal here.
Perforated eardrum
A perforated eardrum can be caused by infections, changes in air pressure or exposure to a loud noise. The perforated eardrum can cause the sound of tinnitus to be heard.
And more
Tinnitus may also develop as a result of a head injury, change in blood flow, some medications, diabetes, exposure to loud noise and other underlying causes that may be present.
TINNITUS TREATMENT
There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments available to help minimize the noise. One option is to wear hearing aids for tinnitus masking features. There are other masking devices that are available which could also help you with tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is also an option where you get counselling to learn how to ignore the noises that are present. The therapy can take one or two years to complete.
TINNITUS TEST
If you are experiencing tinnitus there are tests that can be performed to try and find out what the underlying condition is causing the tinnitus for the individual. Contact our clinic to schedule a hearing test to see what might be causing the tinnitus and what relief can be suggested.
