Tinnitus

Contrary to popular belief, Tinnitus is not a disease. Tinnitus is a symptom of many different underlying causes, including: ear infections, objects or wax in the ear, age related hearing loss, noise induced hearing loss, as well as some allergies to medications.

But what causes Tinnitus? Typically, the most common cause of Tinnitus is damage to the inner ear cell. In an undamaged ear, tiny hairs within the cochlea bend with the pressure of sound. This bending sends a signal to the neurons connected to the hair cells which indicates to the hearing nerve, and ultimately your brain, that a sound is being heard. If the hairs within the cochlea are bent or broken, they can send phantom electrical signal impulses to your brain, signaling there is a sound present when there is not.

The first step in treating tinnitus is by getting an audiological evaluation performed. Based on the information gained, different approaches can be made to minimize the effects of your tinnitus. These include but are not limited to: ear wax removal, changing medications, white noise machines, hearing aids, masking devices and some medications (though it is important to note that drugs cannot cure tinnitus as presently there is no cure).

While some of these approaches may help reduce or end your Tinnitus, they may not always work. There are different ways to help make symptoms less bothersome. Avoiding irritants, managing your stress level, reducing alcohol intake and masking the tinnitus with a fan or soft music may help. Though most cases of Tinnitus cannot be prevented, there are steps to help reduce certain kinds.

For more information on how to reduce your risk, click here.