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Do you have Ringing or Buzzing ears ! Check Out

By Ms. Vincy Mol .T : Speech Pathologist and Audiologist

The word ‘tinnitus’ is of Latin origin which means to tinkle or to ring like a bell. Tinnitus is a subjective experience where one hears a sound, ringing or noise when no external physical sound is present. Some call it ‘head noises’, ‘ear ringing’ or other similar things. It is a common ear problem secondary to numerous ethologies such as noise exposure, otitis media, meniers disease, otosclerosis, trauma etc. A thorough evaluation is necessary to rule out less common causes which may include acoustic neuromas, glomas tumours, arteriosclerosis. There are many causes indeed almost everything that goes wrong with the ear has tinnitus associated with it as a symptom. Things as simple as wax against the ear drum to very serious items such as tumours on the 8th nerve can produce tinnitus. One of the most common causes of tinnitus is exposure to excessively loud sound such as shooting, chain saws or other loud noises.

It is estimated that 50 million adults have tinnitus in some form or the other. Of which, 12 million have it in such a severe form that they must seek medical help. During an average year tinnitus patients spend more money seeking help and treatment for their tinnitus than they do for all their health conditions. Tinnitus can be a chronic condition causing loss of concentration, sleep problems and psychological distress. It can also make deteriorating hearing condition or balance disorder seem worse. Tinnitus has been described as the third worst thing that can happen to mankind.

In most cases, tinnitus is associated with some hearing loss, for example those who have been exposed to excessively loud sounds may have hearing loss for the high pitched tones. In some cases, tinnitus is present where there is no hearing loss and for no discernible reason. Its presence does not mean that the patient will become deaf. Most common reasons are loud sounds (a key thing that tinnitus patients must avoid at all costs), Excessive use of alcohol, nicotine as aspirin and some antibiotics and stress. Most common thing for tinnitus patient is to be examined by an ENT doctor. The purpose of this is to find out if there is a medical condition in which treatment is needed.

Other than medical treatment, there are different forms of experimental approaches used such as amplification, Masking, Biofeedback, Electrical stimulation which can reduce the tinnitus in certain patients.

Do’s and Dont’s:

1. Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises.

2. Get your blood pressure checked

3. Decrease intake of salt.

4. Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola and tobacco

5. Exercise daily to improve your circulation

6. Get adequate rest and avoid fatigue.