What it is
I think I can safely say that we have all experienced Tinnitus at one time or another. You know that irritating ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or clicking in your ears. Have you ever wondered what the heck it was and why you have it? Better yet, how can you get rid of it? This article will hopefully answer all of your questions about Tinnitus.
Causes
We know what it is now, that irritating buzzing, ringing, whistling or clicking that all of a sudden you can hear in your ears. We can experience this after receiving a bump on the head or when we have been exposed to really loud noise. Other causes can be a buildup of earwax, ear infections, an inner ear disorder, aging, an under active thyroid, allergies and in some rare cases, a tumor. High doses of aspirin or antibiotics and even high blood pressure can also cause Tinnitus. These irritating sounds in our ears can cause sleep loss, or even cause us to lose our concentration as we think about the noises in our ears.
Treatment
Usually when Tinnitus is temporary it will fade after a few days. If it lasts for longer than a week, you should seek a physician’s help. The physician will try to determine the cause. First all medical conditions, such as excess ear wax, high blood pressure, allergies or an under active thyroid will be ruled out. Once the cause is determined, then the treatment can be focused on what is causing the Tinnitus. If no cause can be determined or you need help in dealing with the irritation, psychological counseling may help by showing you how to deal with the noise and reduce the stress you feel because of it. When persons suffer from both hearing loss and Tinnitus, a hearing aid can help to drown out the noise by increasing the sounds in the environment. Maskers, are devices that look like hearing aids but emit a more pleasant sound than that which you experience with the Tinnitus and can help you deal with it better. If you become overly anxious about the sounds in your ears your physician can prescribe for you antianxiety drugs such as Xanax, anesthetics such as lidocaine or even antidepressants when may prove helpful. Some alternative therapies that may also help are, biofeedback and cognitive therapy as well as stress-reduction techniques. It has also been shown helpful to include B vitamins in your diet or you may also want to try herbal preparations, such as ginkgo biloba.
Prevention
Try not to expose yourself to loud noises. Wear earplugs or earmuffs, if you cannot avoid loud noises. Some events where you may need ear protection: musical concerts, amusement parks, snowmobiling or shooting ranges, while using some machinery, lawn mowers or power tools. A good rule of thumb is: if you cannot hear someone 3 feet away (arm’s length) from you, then the noise level is too loud and you need to protect your ears. Appliances to be safe on your hearing should only be purchased if they omit 85 decibels of sound or fewer.
Reference:
- Web Sitewww.ohsu.edu/ohrc/tinnitusclinic
