Tinnitus

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Tinnitus
File:Tinnitus Simulation.mp3
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Ringing in the ears, buzzing, hissing, or other sounds
Complications	N/A
Onset	Gradual or sudden
Duration	Can be temporary or chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Hearing loss, ear infection, ear injury, exposure to loud noise
Risks	Age, loud noise exposure, earwax blockage, ear bone changes
Diagnosis	Audiometry, physical examination, imaging studies
Differential diagnosis	Meniere's disease, acoustic neuroma, vascular disorders
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Sound therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, hearing aids, medication
Medication	Antidepressants, anxiolytics
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Affects about 10-15% of the population
Deaths	Not directly fatal

HSR 1996 II 3.3c

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
• Méni√®re‚Äôs 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‚Äôt 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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