Tinnitus is a Latin word, TINNIRE, which means “ringing.” It is an unpleasant condition in which individuals hear ringing in their ears when there is no actual sound present. Tinnitus can be caused by various factors, with the most common being noise-induced hearing loss. Other causes include ear infections, oxidative stress, neurological damage (such as multiple sclerosis), foreign objects in the ear, nasal allergies that prevent fluid drain, wax build-up, exposure to loud sounds, and withdrawal from benzodiazepines.
The sounds experienced with tinnitus can include ringing, roaring, clicking, electric buzzing, crickets, whooping nature of sound, hissing, and more. Tinnitus can affect one or both ears.
Statistics show that millions of people worldwide suffer from tinnitus. Approximately 18% of Australians experience tinnitus at some point in their lives, and around 50 million Americans have some form of tinnitus. Self-help tinnitus therapy centers can be found in countries such as the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
In the United Kingdom, there are more than ten million people with some form of hearing loss. This accounts for one in six of the population, with 3.7 million being of working age (16-64) and 6.3 million being of retirement age (65+).
Tinnitus can also occur in children, although they rarely communicate this symptom.
There are two types of tinnitus: subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus occurs when only the individual can hear the sound. It is often caused by problems in the inner, middle, or outer ear. Subjective tinnitus is much more common than objective tinnitus, accounting for 95% of cases. The severity of subjective tinnitus varies depending on the individual’s reaction. Some individuals may have difficulties sleeping or concentrating, as well as feelings of depression or anxiety.
Causes of subjective tinnitus include loss of hearing, noise-induced damage, high or low blood pressure, metabolic disorders, tumors, external ear infection, cerumen impaction, middle ear effusion, sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral hearing loss (which may indicate acoustic neuroma or other disorders), and neurologic, metabolic, or psychogenic disorders.
Objective tinnitus is audible to the healthcare practitioner examining the patient. It can be detected using a stethoscope or by listening closely to the ear. Objective tinnitus accounts for less than 5% of tinnitus cases and is usually associated with vascular or muscular disorders. It can be described as pulsatile or synchronous with the patient’s heartbeat and is often caused by abnormalities in the carotid artery or jugular venous systems.
Certain medications can also cause tinnitus, so it is important to inform your doctor about your hearing and overall health. Medications for arthritis, rheumatic diseases, certain antibiotics, and some depressants can potentially lead to tinnitus if not taken with caution.
