Tinnitus

Definition: Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a sound in one or both ears, when there is no external sound/noise from the environment. No one else can hear what you can hear.

Tinnitus may be confined to one ear, when it is indicative of a local cause, or be bilateral which is symptomatic of a general condition. Noise and or drugs may bring about pathological changes.

Tinnitus is usually associated with ear damage from exposure to:

Loud noise
Age-related hearing loss
Middle ear infections
A tumour
Meniere’s Disease
Injury to the vestibulocochlear nerve

Various symptoms of tinnitus
Symptoms can vary in tone and in pitch from:

A low roar
High squeal
A whine
Roaring
Hissing
Music
Crackers
Ringing
Whistling
Tinkling
Buzzing
Humming

Some of the factors that cause or worsen tinnitus include the following:

Loud noises are always accused of destroying or damaging the cilia (hair cells that prevent dust from entering the inner ear) in the inner ear
Wax against the eardrum
A tumour on the hearing nerve
Old Age (advancing age is accompanied by a certain amount of hearing nerve impairment and tinnitus)
Otosclerosis (stiffening of the middle ear bones)
Allergy
High or low blood pressure (blood circulation problems)
Diabetes
Thyroid problems
Certain foods like soy, wheat, chocolate and red wine
Injury to the head or neck
Meniere’s disease (results from an increased pressure in the inner ear which also causes deafness and vertigo