Tinnitus can be caused by problems directly in the hearing organs or by disturbances in the functioning of the nervous or cardiovascular system.
1. Mechanical damage
Tinnitus can be caused by mechanical damage to certain parts of the auditory system – this can occur, for example, as a result of traumatic brain injury or acoustic trauma caused by exposure to too loud sounds.
2.Stress and anxiety
Increased anxiety can cause not only psychological discomfort, but also physiological symptoms. Research shows that people with anxiety disorders are much more likely to experience tinnitus [1]. Anxiety and stress can also aggravate tinnitus symptoms.
3. Damage to the auditory nerve
The auditory (cochlear) nerve carries sensory information from the inner ear to the brain. Damage to the auditory nerve due to infection, inflammation, or injury can result in “phantom” sounds.
4. High blood pressure
High blood pressure , as well as atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases, can cause tinnitus due to increased and uneven blood flow to the inner ear and other hearing organs [2].
5. Meniere’s disease
This is the name of a disease of the inner ear caused by the accumulation of excess fluid (endolymph) in its cavity. In most cases of this disorder, patients also complain of noise or ringing in the ears [3].
6. Otosclerosis
This disease is associated with degenerative processes in the bone tissue of the inner ear. Most people with otosclerosis experience symptoms of tinnitus.
7. Neoplasms
Both benign and malignant tumors of the ear, auditory nerve, and brain can put pressure on the hearing organs and also impair circulation, causing tinnitus.
8. Wax plugs
Earwax is produced by the glands of the external auditory canal. It lubricates the ear canal, protects it from moisture and has antibacterial properties. However, excess accumulation of earwax can lead to the formation of wax plugs. Earwax can cause hearing loss, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and tinnitus.
9. Side effects of medications
Some medications have ototoxic properties and may interfere with normal hearing function. Tinnitus as a side effect can be caused by antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs used to treat cancer, psychotropic drugs, and drugs for the treatment of hypertension.
Which doctor should I contact for tinnitus?
When tinnitus appears, it is important to understand that it can very often be combined with sensorineural hearing loss, and in order for its treatment to be effective, it is important to start it as early as possible, so it is necessary to seek qualified medical help as soon as possible. An audiologist-otoneurologist directly diagnoses and treats tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss. For an initial consultation, you can also contact an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor).
Diagnosis of tinnitus
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will need to collect an anamnesis of the disease and conduct an examination; if necessary, he may also prescribe certain tests, for example:
- tone threshold audiometry (allows you to check hearing acuity);
- blood tests;
- MRI of the brain;
- Ultrasound of the vessels of the skull base with rotation tests (during the examination, the patient alternately turns his head in different directions);
- other studies to assess the condition of the hearing organs (video-otoscopy, impedance measurement, tympanometry, etc.).
How to get rid of tinnitus: treatment of tinnitus
Treatment options for tinnitus primarily depend on the cause of the symptom. Correct diagnosis of the disorder is important to prescribe effective therapy. Here are the main treatments for tinnitus:
1. Tablets and medications
In some cases, drug treatment is indicated for tinnitus. Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants can reduce the discomfort of tinnitus, thereby reducing anxiety and stress, which themselves worsen tinnitus symptoms. In this way, they help the patient break the “vicious circle” (tinnitus causes stress, which further increases the discomfort of tinnitus, which causes even more stress).
The doctor may also prescribe medications that reduce increased nervous activity in the auditory system or drugs to improve cerebral circulation.
At the same time, certain medications (some antibiotics, antitumor drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.) themselves can cause tinnitus as a side effect, and discontinuation of these medications may be sufficient to eliminate tinnitus.
2. Ear drops
If tinnitus is caused, for example, by inflammatory diseases of the ear (otitis media, etc.) or accumulation of earwax, the doctor may prescribe ear drops to eliminate the cause of tinnitus.
3. Surgically
Some conditions that cause tinnitus may require surgery to treat the underlying cause of tinnitus (for example, Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, or tumors affecting the hearing organs).
4. Hearing aids
If tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss, using a hearing aid can help amplify external sounds, which in itself masks the tinnitus. Some hearing aids can also generate white noise, drowning out “phantom” sounds [4].
5. Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) can help reduce the discomfort of tinnitus, improve the patient’s quality of life, and reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms caused by tinnitus [5].
What can you do for tinnitus at home?
The symptoms of tinnitus can often be dealt with on your own (which, of course, does not exclude medical examination and possible treatment). Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and minimizing stress plays an important role. Here are some tips to help reduce the discomfort of tinnitus:
- Try to eliminate factors that aggravate symptoms . In some cases, drinking alcohol, caffeine, salty foods, or certain medications can worsen tinnitus symptoms.
- If possible, stop smoking . Smoking increases the risk of developing hearing disorders, including tinnitus.
- Avoid complete silence . In silence, tinnitus is usually subjectively felt more strongly. In this case, some kind of background sound can help – you can, for example, turn on the radio, a fan, or use a special white noise generator (this method is also effective if tinnitus makes it difficult to fall asleep).
- Practice relaxation techniques . Anxiety and stress make tinnitus worse. Various relaxation methods can help – for example, yoga, meditation practices, walks in nature, relaxing baths, etc.
Possible complications if left untreated
If left untreated, severe tinnitus can lead to complications, including:
- decreased performance and quality of life;
- irritability;
- constant fatigue;
- impaired concentration;
- problems with memory and sleep;
- frequent headaches;
- inexplicable fears;
- development of anxiety and depressive disorders.
Prevention of tinnitus
The risk of developing tinnitus (and many of the chronic diseases that cause it) can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and taking care to protect your hearing.
- To prevent tinnitus, it is first of all important to maintain hearing hygiene – avoid exposure to too loud sounds, and if necessary (for example, when there is a high noise level at work), use protective equipment (anti-noise headphones, etc.).
- It is important to adhere to a proper diet. Eating a healthy diet helps control cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Increased levels of “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides increase the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, atherosclerosis, etc.), which can lead to the development of tinnitus [6].
- You should try to minimize your stress level . It is important to maintain a balance between work and rest, establish quality, restful sleep, and eliminate other stress factors. Various relaxation and stress-relieving exercises can also help.
Reviews from an otolaryngologist
Anton Rizaev, an otolaryngologist at the SM-Clinic medical center, spoke about the diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus :
“Tinnitus is a subjective noise in the ears that a person hears in the absence of an external sound stimulus. There are different types of tinnitus: there is a classification according to the degree of severity from mild, which does not significantly affect the patient’s quality of life and performance, to severe, which constantly bothers, significantly complicates sleep and sharply reduces performance. There are also acute (up to 3 months), subacute and chronic (more than 1 year) tinnitus.
Diagnosis of tinnitus, in addition to collecting an anamnesis, must necessarily include pure tone threshold audiometry, MRI of the brain, ultrasound of the vessels of the base of the skull with rotation tests (this way they check whether there is an effect on the blood flow in the vertebral arteries from the spine).
In the treatment of tinnitus, the primary role is played by eliminating, if possible, the causes that led to it; these can be neurological, endocrinological, oncological and other diseases, as well as the use of ototoxic (damaging to the hearing organs) drugs.
For vascular disorders, appropriate medications are used, and in some cases, endovascular surgical interventions cannot be avoided when there are pronounced disturbances in vascular patency. Sometimes manual therapy techniques are used if the cause of tinnitus is associated with diseases of the spine.
Treatment to reduce the impact of tinnitus on quality of life is important. For this purpose, in particular, hearing aids are used. Some have special modes that mask the sound of tinnitus with white noise. Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy shows good effectiveness in treating tinnitus.”
Reminder: what to do if you experience tinnitus
- Tinnitus is an audible noise in the ears (ringing, squeaking, buzzing or other sound) in the absence of an actual sound stimulus.
- Many people occasionally experience tinnitus; in most cases, this phenomenon goes away quickly and does not cause much discomfort.
- If tinnitus is felt constantly, causes significant discomfort, interferes with normal life, and is accompanied by other symptoms (dizziness, headaches, throbbing sensation), you should consult a doctor – an otolaryngologist or audiologist.
- You can fight the symptoms of tinnitus on your own – it is important to avoid too loud sounds (use protective equipment if necessary), maintain a healthy lifestyle (proper diet and sleep, regular physical activity), try to minimize the level of stress in everyday life, and eliminate irritating factors (for example , caffeine, alcohol, smoking, salty foods).