Tinnitus Facts

Tinnitus is constant sound in the ears that doesn't come from an external source, that is, that doesn't exist in the world outside your body. The term "tinnitus" is the Latin term for "ringing" and that is often how people describe the sound. Other sounds that people report as tinnitus are chirping, ticking, clicking, whooshing, pounding, and buzzing. For some, it's phantom music or voices that they hear. While a vast majority of the population report experiencing these sounds on occasion, the diagnosis of tinnitus is only given in cases where the noise is constant and/or debilitating. In other words, if the noise prevents you from sleeping or otherwise performing the regular duties required by your home life or job, then it's tinnitus and needs to be addressed. It is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from Hearing Loss. It is more prevalent in adults than children, though children can also experience it. It is believed to affect twenty percent of older adults. Men are more likely to experience it than women. It is also the number one reported disability of veterans. What are the causes of tinnitus? Hearing loss and tinnitus tend to be connected. Not being able to hear external sounds makes it easier to hear the noise in your ear itself. The reason that hearing loss causes tinnitus is still unknown, but one theory postulates that the ear makes noise in the frequency range it can no longer hear. A very loud noise can also cause tinnitus (as well as temporary hearing loss). Some tinnitus is caused by things like muscle movements or tendons or bones "cracking." Blood flow in your head (or problems with it) can also cause you to hear your own pulse in your ears, known as pulsatile tinnitus. Fluid in the ears, an ear infection, and earwax buildup can also cause tinnitus. Tinnitus can also be a side effect of some medications which may also result Meniere's Disease. There are over 260 medications that list tinnitus as a side effect. The list includes many common pain medicines, antibiotics, and anti-depressants, as well as anti-virals, chemotherapy drugs, and diuretics. Rarely, tinnitus is a sign of a more serious, underlying condition. Lyme disease, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia have all been linked to tinnitus. Iron and vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause tinnitus. In rare cases, tinnitus is actually a sound being created by the ear that can be heard by others ("objective tinnitus"). For many, though, the cause of tinnitus remains a mystery. If your tinnitus is caused by earwax buildup or a medication you are taking, removing the cause can fix the problem. In other cases, treatment varies. Mild tinnitus may be reduced or eliminated with the use of white noise generators. There are drugs and supplements that have been used to treat tinnitus. Stimulating the brain, ear, or nerves with electricity is another method of treatment. Surgery is another alternative.