Tinnitus is quite common and characterised by ringing in your ears. You can experience it after attending a loud concert or while walking through a noisy construction site. While is rarely a medical condition, it usually associated with other ear conditions. And even if it is not life-threatening, it can negatively affect your quality of life.
Tinnitus is usually associated with hearing loss, stress, ear infections, and neck or jaw issues. It can be buzzling, ringing, or whistling sound you can hear from within one or both ears. Although tinnitus can be experienced at some time in your life, persistent ringing can become debilitating. But, you can prevent this from happening by submitting yourself to an Audiologie Centre Ouest évaluation acouphène as soon as possible.
Common Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a symptom that something is wrong with your auditory system. This system is composed of the ear, the auditory nerve the connects the inner ear to the brain, and the brain’s sound-processing parts. Tinnitus can be caused by as simple as an earwax blocking the ear canal. However, it can also be due to some conditions such as ear and sinus infections, noise-induced hearing loss, brain tumors, hormonal changes in women, Ménière’s disease, and more.
In older people, tinnitus may be the first sign of hearing loss. Also, this condition can occur as a side effect of medications. Continuous exposure to noise that damages tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear can lead to tinnitus development.
What to Do if you Have Tinnitus
If you think you have tinnitus, go to your primary care doctor to get your checked for ear wax that may be blocking the ear canal. You will be asked about your current health conditions and medications to determine any underlying conditions that might be causing the tinnitus. Your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist or ENT who will physically examine your head, neck, and ears. Also, they will test your hearing to know whether your tinnitus is caused by hearing loss. Also, you might be referred to an audiologist to measuring your hearing and assess your tinnitus.
Treatment Options for Tinnitus
A hearing aid can be adjusted to carefully control outside sound levels to let you hear. Also, you can use earplugs designed to block damaging noise while keeping you hearing important sounds. A musician earplug is ideal if you play a musical instrument or perform a musical piece as your job. Another treatment option is a wearable sound generator that fits in the ear and uses a soft, pleasant sound for helping mask the tinnitus. The right treatment may depend on the severity of your condition.
