What is tinnitus? What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus (from the Latin tinnitus or "ringing") is a condition characterized by ringing, swishing, or other noises that appear to be originating in the ear or head. 

Not normally a dangerous or serious problem, tinnitus is usually a symptom of some other underlying condition and most often considered a nuisance. Age-related hearing loss, ear injury, foreign objects in the ear, and circulatory system problems, for example, may cause the condition. 

Tinnitus may be subjective or objective. In subjective tinnitus, only the patient can hear the noises. In objective tinnitus, a physician may hear the noise while doing an examination. 

Tinnitus tends to improve with direct treatment or treatment of an underlying cause. Though it rarely progresses into a serious problem, the condition is linked to fatigue, stress, sleep problems, concentration difficulty, memory problems, depression, anxiety and irritability.

Who gets tinnitus?

What causes tinnitus?

Although anyone can get tinnitus, some people are more likely to develop the condition. This includes men, white people, older adults (over the age of 65), and those with age-related hearing loss. In addition, people who have been exposed to loud noises for extended periods of time and those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are known to have higher rates of tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a symptom of a variety of health conditions, blood vessel disorders, and effects from medications. The most common causes of tinnitus are age-related hearing loss, exposure to loud noises, earwax blockage in the ear canal, and abnormal bone growth in the ear. Less common causes include an inner ear disorder called Meniere's disease, stress and depression, head or neck injuries, and a benign tumor of the cranial nerve called acoustic neuroma.
Blood vessel disorders that cause tinnitus include head and neck tumors, atherosclerosis (buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels), high blood pressure, turbulent blood flow, and a malformation of capillaries. Medications known to cause tinnitus include antibiotics, cancer treatments, diuretics, quinine and chloroquine for malaria, and aspirin.

What are the symptoms of tinnitus?

Symptoms of tinnitus include hearing sounds when no external sound is present. The ears may sense ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling, hissing, or squealing. Noises may appear low or high in pitch and may interfere with a person's ability to concentrate.

How is tinnitus diagnosed?

To diagnose tinnitus, physicians will request a medical history, conduct a physical examination, and present a series of special tests. 

A doctor will check for ear wax, foreign objects, or hair that may be rubbing against the eardrum. It is important to let the physician know if the noises are constant, intermittent, or pulsating and if you suffer from age-related hearing loss or vertigo. 

Tests such as an audiogram (hearing test), auditory brain stem response (ABR), computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be used to find potential causes of tinnitus or to locate tumors.

How is tinnitus treated?

If an underlying cause of the tinnitus is found, a doctor will treat that condition and the tinnitus usually subsides. 

This may include removing earwax, treating blood vessel conditions, or changing medication regimens. In many cases, however, the underlying cause cannot be identified. 

There is no specific treatment for tinnitus, but a doctor may suggest other methods of suppressing the sound. White noise machines, hearing aids, and masking devices, may be offered because of their ability to suppress sounds, making the tinnitus less annoying. 

Although drugs cannot cure tinnitus, some such as tricyclic antidepressants, alprazolam, and acamprosate may reduce the severity of symptoms.

How can tinnitus be prevented?

Some types of tinnitus may be avoided by following preventive measures. 

For example, it is not recommended to use cotton swabs to clean the ears (it pushes wax against the ear drum). In addition, tinnitus can be prevented by wearing ear plugs at work (if there is excessive noise), at rock concerts, at sporting events, and while hunting, using a lawnmower, and blow drying hair. 

Maintaining good cardiovascular health by exercising regularly may reduce the chances of developing tinnitus linked to blood vessel disorders.