Tinnitus is a medical condition where patients hear ringing, clicking, or whistling in their ears. It can be a symptom of underlying problems, and while it can be difficult to treat, patients can manage it with masking devices and stress management.
Tinnitus is a medical condition characterized by ringing, clicking, ringing, whistling or whining in the ear, despite the lack of external stimuli that could create these sounds. In addition to being an irritant, this condition can also be a symptom of more concerning underlying problems such as tumors, infections or hearing loss. Patients who experience symptoms should see a doctor to determine the cause and receive treatment. A doctor may not be able to eliminate the sound, but they can help patients manage it.
This condition can affect one or both ears, depending on the cause. The word comes from the Latin tinnitus, meaning “ring”. Humans have reported cases of ringing in the ears for thousands of years, and numerous treatments from the mundane to the bizarre have been attempted. Because the causes of this condition are so varied, it has also historically been difficult to treat, and this remains true today.
There are technically two types of tinnitus. The vast majority of cases are subjective in the sense that only the patient can hear the sounds. In other cases, known as objective tinnitus, a doctor may also hear the noises when examining the patient. The two types have different underlying causes, and while the objective type is sometimes treatable, the subjective type is much more intractable.
Common causes of tinnitus include head trauma, damage to nerve endings in the ear, blocked canals, ear infections, and the use of some prescription drugs. When the cause is something like a tumor or earwax blockage, the condition can be treated by removing the offending object. If a drug is the cause, a doctor may recommend a drug switch or change the dosage. Unfortunately, things like nerve damage aren’t that easy to treat. A case of tinnitus can also be caused by temporary damage to the ears, such as exposure to an explosion or similar noise, in which case the symptoms will lessen over a period of time.
When a patient complains of tinnitus, a doctor usually screens for causes such as systemic infections, only to rule out potential causes not found on the physical examination. In case a doctor cannot eliminate the condition, the patient can learn how to manage it. Many patients use masking devices such as fans or ear implants to create pleasant white noise. Patients are also encouraged to manage their stress well, as stress appears to be linked to recurrent tinnitus.
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