What Causes Tinnitus and What is the Treatment?

These sounds, which we often perceive as coming from outside, are actually through our ears income. It is quite common for a person to hear sounds in his/her own ears without any outside sounds.

Can be both temporary and permanent tinnitusIt can be unilateral or bilateral. Often misunderstood, it can impair your quality of life. causes of tinnitus There are things you need to know about it.

What is tinnitus?

When you hear ringing in your ears, “Someone is remembering me.” Even though we make jokes like this, there is actually more to it. a common problem Tinnitus affects about 15 to 20 percent of people and is especially prevalent in adults. Of course, this does not mean that it cannot be seen in children.

Ringing, humming, hissing, Tinnitus, defined as the sensation of hearing chirping, whistling and other sounds, can sometimes be continuous or sometimes noisy and intermittent. background noise When it’s low it’s usually worse. You may become more aware of this, especially at night when you are trying to sleep in a quiet room.

What creates noise in the ears?

“What causes tinnitus?” It is not possible to give a clear answer to the question, but there are some theories. One of these is the damage to the inner ear, which changes the signal that carries the nerves to the parts of our brain that process sound.

The other theory is auditory cortex abnormal interactions between the brain and other neural circuits. The auditory cortex, which controls attention and emotions, communicates with other parts of the brain, and some studies have shown that people with tinnitus have some changes in these non-auditory brain regions.

There are two common types of tinnitus: subjective and objective.

common type subjective tinnitus. Only you can hear the sounds. In rare cases, the sound vibrates rhythmically to match your heartbeat. If the doctor hears this with a stethoscope, objective tinnitus is defined. However, scientists still do not understand how this could happen.

Objective tinnitus It is a rare condition. Real noise created by structures close to the ear, such as the noise produced by blood flowing through arteries or veins, is represented. Other people can sometimes hear ringing sounds if they are very close to that person.

So what are the causes of tinnitus? Let’s look at it item by item.

• Age-related hearing loss
• sound pollution
• Ear infections and diseases
• earwax accumulation
• Head and neck traumas
• Side effects of some medications
• Stress and anxiety

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)

As we age, hearing loss may occur as a result of damage to the nerve cells in the inner ear. This situation is especially true in individuals over the age of 60. causes tinnitus it could be.

sound pollution

Prolonged exposure to high sound levels (at concerts, clubs or at work) may damage the inner ear.

Ear infections and diseases

Middle ear infections, ear diseases such as Meniere’s disease, or dysfunction of the eustachian tube tinnitus may cause.

earwax accumulation

Although earwax is a substance that protects our ears, too much of it can close the ear canal and of sound waves It can prevent it from reaching the inner ear, causing tinnitus.

Head and neck traumas

Traumas in the head and neck area; inner ear structure, auditory nerves, or brain related regions may cause tinnitus.

Side effects of some medications

such as aspirin, some antibiotics and cancer drugs high doses of medicationsmay cause tinnitus.

Stress and anxiety

Psychological factors, especially stress and anxiety, can cause tinnitus severity and frequency can increase.

Each of these reasons potential triggers of tinnitus can be seen as. However, tinnitus usually occurs as a result of a combination of multiple factors. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a healthcare professional to determine the exact cause and choose the appropriate treatment method.

What does tinnitus indicate?

In addition to the above reasons, tinnitus can also be a sign of some serious disorders. If “When does tinnitus become dangerous?” If you are wondering, you should also know these reasons.

• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• blood vessel disorders
• Meniere’s disease
• Temporomandibular joint disorders
• Non-cancerous tumor of the vestibular nerve
• Otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth inside your ears)
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Tinnitus symptoms can be of different types.

Tinnitus symptoms While the most common are ringing in the ears, heard continuously or intermittently, and sounds such as crackling and buzzing, other symptoms may also be observed. The volume of tinnitus may also change over time and there may be fluctuations in volume.

Tinnitus may also become more noticeable when falling asleep or concentrating on something. this too sleep problems and may cause difficulty in concentrating in daily activities.

How is tinnitus diagnosed?

Right or left ear tinnitus If either or both bother you, it would be beneficial to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor. The diagnosis process continues with a detailed medical history interview with the patient and a physical examination.

Characteristics of tinnitus, Some tests can be performed after questioning the severity and the living areas it affects.

• Hearing tests (Audiometry): It is used to determine hearing levels and the presence of hearing loss.
• Tympanometry: It is performed to evaluate middle ear pressure and function.
• Imaging tests: It can be done to detect structural abnormalities in the head and neck area, such as MRI or CT scans.

Cause of tinnitus can usually be determined as a result of these evaluations. However, in some cases, a specific cause may not be found. In this case, treatment focuses on managing symptoms.

Is there a cure for tinnitus?

• Voice therapy (Masking)
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Medication
• hearing aids

Voice therapy (Masking)

In the technique of using certain external sounds to mask tinnitus sounds, white noise machines, applications or low-level background music can be used.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

This method eliminates the stress and stress caused by tinnitus. to manage anxiety A psychological therapy that helps. It is aimed to change the person’s perception of tinnitus and his reactions to it.

Medication

If tinnitus has an underlying health problem (for example, infection), medications may be used to treat the condition. However a special drug treatment for tinnitus Unfortunately not.

hearing aids

In people with hearing loss, hearing aids It may help reduce tinnitus sounds.

Although there is no definitive “cure” for tinnitus, many methods can help reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life of the person it affects. tinnitus treatment Options vary depending on the cause of the condition and the severity of the symptoms.

You can prevent tinnitus yourself by paying attention to some points.

• Long time avoiding exposure to loud noisescan prevent damage to the inner ear.
• Organised ear cleaning and health check-up reduces the risk of infection. right ear tinnitus If you have a problem in one ear, you can pay more attention to this ear.
• Balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep supports overall health and may reduce the risk of tinnitus.
• Yoga, meditation and stress management methods such as deep breathing techniques can prevent tinnitus from being triggered.

Tinnitus is a complex condition that affects many people. If you have symptoms, take an appointment to get the best possible outcome. to the ENT doctor You must apply. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment methods can make a big difference in dealing with tinnitus.

By applying the prevention strategies we have outlined, you can reduce the risk of tinnitus and improve your overall health. your ear health you can protect it. The most important step in combating tinnitus is to be conscious and adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

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