All About Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a word that one doesn't encounter often, though what it describes is relatively common. To put it simply, tinnitus is a medical condition which means that you are hearing sounds which aren't there. As opposed to psychological disorders like schizophrenia in which those afflicted hear voices, talking, and other concrete auditory hallucinations, those with tinnitus usually hear something more akin to a ringing in the ears. This symptom is actually what gives tinnitus its name: tinnitus is a Latin word which means "ringing".

The best way to avoid hearing loss is to avoid the things that cause it: therefore, it is good to learn what exactly causes tinnitus if you'd rather avoid suffering from it later in life. Tinnitus has multiple causes. Certain neurological disorders can induce tinnitus.
 One cause of tinnitus in many people is drug use. Tinnitus is a possible side effect of many life saving prescription drugs. You can also have the symptoms of tinnitus from medication withdrawal; for example, withdrawal from benzodiazepines reliance can be accompanied by a ringing in the ears. If there's something stuck in your ear, you can also experience ringing or other persistent, ambient sounds that aren't really there. You can also experience tinnitus from a build up of fluid (from sickness or allergy) or ear wax in the ear canal.

Tinnitus also often accompanies many types of hearing damage. Most people who have hearing damage like Meniere's Disease have it because of exposure to excessive or excessively loud noise. This excessively loud noise can come from a number of places. People who go to work every day in loud workplaces such as factories or gun ranges can experience hearing damage as well as the tinnitus that often accompanies it. You've also probably heard the old adage from your parents that loud music damages your ears. The moms of the world have your back on this one. Loud music actually does hurt your ears just like mom says it does. Many people have experienced tinnitus after rock concerts; if you have ever left a loud concert with your ears ringing, then you have experienced it too. The most common causes of noise damage related tinnitus, however, isn't at huge rock concerts; its actually in-ear headphones.

If you protect your hearing, you can prevent yourself from getting noise damage related tinnitus. If you work in a musical venue or as a musician or DJ, you can get special earplugs that will make everything quieter but not distort sound. If you work in a loud place and you want to reduce your chances of coming down with the symptoms of tinnitus, consider adding earplugs or earmuffs to your daily work wear. If you are able to take these simple measures in reducing your exposure to excessively loud noises, you'll definitely reduce your risk of tinnitus.