Tinnitus

Tinnitus is essentially a ringing in the ears or a head noise that most people have experienced at one time or another in their lifetime.

Tinnitus can be described as the perception of sound in the head when there is no external sound present to cause it. Tinnitus may be more noticeable at night when there is nothing to distract the sound and your surroundings are quieter. Along with ringing, other noises in the head, tinnitus may be described as hissing, roaring, pulsing, whooshing, chirping, whistling and clicking. This sensation can occur in one or both ears and it can also be perceived to be occurring either inside or outside of the ears.

Tinnitus can accompany or be associated with loss of hearing and it can also exist on its own without any hearing loss present. Because tinnitus is actually the symptom of a problem, you should try to find out what is causing it. If you suffer from any of its symptoms you should seek medical help to check for things often associated with tinnitus - such as blood pressure, kidney function, medications, diet and allergies, emotional stress, noise exposure, and any diseases that involve the auditory system as tinnitus can often be associated with conditions that occur in all levels of the auditory system. These conditions include impacted ear wax, ear infection, middle ear tumors, otosclerosis, vascular problems, Menieres disease, ototoxic medications, circulation disorders, noise-induced hearing loss along with tumors, migraines and epilepsy.

If you find out that your tinnitus is being caused by stress; which can actually make tinnitus worse, you can then anticipate and prevent situations that could make your tinnitus worse. The most effective form of treatment for tinnitus is to get rid of its underlying cause. Tinnitus can often be a symptom of a treatable condition so medical or surgical procedures can be implemented to correct the condition. However, the cause of tinnitus cannot always be found. In these instances, medical or surgical treatment isn't appropriate and the tinnitus itself may have to be treated.

There are various types of treatments for tinnitus including drug therapy, vitamin therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis, electrical stimulation, relaxation therapy, and counseling and habituation therapies. However, each case is unique and a treatment that works for one individual may not work for another.

One treatment option is using tinnitus maskers. These items resemble hearing aids and produce sounds that mask or cover up the tinnitus. The sounds produced act as distractions and are generally more tolerable than the tinnitus. Tinnitus can be caused by excessive noise and many musicians suffer from it, so make sure you wear ear protection when it's needed.