By Marcus Chau
Tinnitus is a common ear disease that affects around 10-25% of adults. It can be highly annoying due to its effects of disturbing noises that might last a long time or appear in short periods frequently.
So… Why do we have tinnitus?
Tinnitus is normally caused by underlying conditions such as age-related hearing loss or an ear injury, which is also why tinnitus is more related in the elderly. Sometimes, tinnitus is a sign of high blood pressure, an allergy, or anemia. In rare cases, tinnitus is a sign of a severe problem, such as a tumor or aneurysm. Other risk factors for tinnitus include temporomandibular joint disorder, diabetes, thyroid problems, obesity, and head injury. Tinnitus can affect someone by ringing in their ears, although there is no external sound to be heard.
Chart of commonness of tinnitus
Symptoms of tinnitus
Tinnitus is most often described as a ringing in the ears, even though no external sound is present. However, tinnitus can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including:
Buzzing
Roaring
Clicking
Hissing
Humming
Most people who have tinnitus have subjective tinnitus, which is tinnitus that only you can hear. The noises of tinnitus may vary in pitch from a low to a high, and you may hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it interferes with your ability to hear external sound. It may be present all the time, or it may come and go.
Chart of impacts of tinnitus
Cures of tinnitus
Currently, there is no known way to treat tinnitus completely. However, many methods of relieving tinnitus have been developed, primarily by using softer white noise to mask the sounds tinnitus creates. Treatments such as sound generators, hearing aids, and combination hearing devices are all electronic products that work this way, while sound therapy and masking help you grow accustomed to tinnitus.
How to avoid tinnitus
Although hard to cure, it is relatively simple to prevent or lower the chances of having tinnitus. Common ways are to lower listening volume and prevent exposure to loud sounds for too long, take care of cardiovascular health by regularly exercising and eating healthily, limiting alcohol intake, and using hearing protection if you are constantly exposed to loud sounds. These can all help lessen the probability of having tinnitus, and such small measurements can go a long way.
Conclusion
Tinnitus is an ear disease that can be rather troublesome to patients due to the unwanted noises generated in your head, and there is no straightforward way to solve it. Tinnitus can occur to just about anyone, although more common in larger age groups, and mostly happens from other body conditions.