Tinnitus

Definition

Tinnitus, also called ringing of the ear, is a disorder in which a person hears noises such as buzzing, ringing, clicking, or the sound of a pulse, when no outside sound is causing them.

Causes

• Tinnitus may have many different causes, and may be a symptom of another disease or condition.
• It may be caused by certain tumors and anticancer drugs.

Other causes include:

• Noise-induced hearing loss
• Ear and sinus infections
• Diseases of the heart or blood vessels
• Ménière’s disease
• Brain tumors
• Hormonal changes in women
• Thyroid abnormalities

Diagnosis

• ENT physicians physically examine your head, neck, and ears and test your hearing to determine
• You might also be referred to an audiologist who can also measure your hearing and evaluate your tinnitus.

Treatment

• Hearing aids often are helpful
• Wearable sound generators are small electronic devices that fit in the ear and use a soft, pleasant sound to help mask the tinnitus
• Tabletop sound generators are also used as an aid for relaxation or sleep.
• Acoustic neural stimulation is a relatively new technique for people whose tinnitus is very loud or won’t go away.
• Cochlear implants are sometimes used in people who have tinnitus along with severe hearing loss.
• Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs might be prescribed

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