Unilateral tinnitus, or ringing in one ear, can be caused by earwax buildup, infections, head injuries, medications, tumors, and chronic diseases. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and can include clinical procedures, medications, and hearing aids. A doctor’s visit is important for diagnosis and treatment.
Unilateral tinnitus refers to a feeling of ringing or ringing in one ear. It is a very common problem that can have different causes. Earwax buildup, acute ear infections, head injuries, and some medications can cause temporary one-sided tinnitus. Chronic problems are usually related to more serious medical disorders, such as Meniere’s disease and cancerous or benign tumors. Treatment for unilateral tinnitus depends on the underlying cause, but most cases can be relieved with simple clinical procedures and medications.
Constant or frequent ringing noises are usually related to cell damage in the inner ear. Exposure to very loud sounds, head and neck injuries, impacted earwax, and deep-seated ear infections can damage sensitive cells. As a result, they are unable to accurately translate noises into electrical signals that can be interpreted in the brain. Damaged cells mistakenly release impulses that are recognized as buzzing or buzzing by the brain when no sound is present.
Other possible causes of unilateral tinnitus include tumors that suppress the auditory nerves or blood vessels in the brain, congenital ear bone deformities, and chronic diseases. Meniere’s disease is a serious disease of the inner ear that can cause one-sided tinnitus, dizziness, headaches and permanent hearing loss. Some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and malaria drugs also cause temporary ringing in the ear in a small number of patients. Depression and excessive stress can also trigger tinnitus symptoms in some people, although doctors don’t fully understand the correlation.
Tinnitus can be experienced differently by everyone. Some people have high-pitched or ringing sounds in their ears, while others notice low, deep ringing or roaring. The sound can be very soft and not affect your hearing, or it can be loud enough to block out all other noise. It’s important to visit a doctor whenever lasting symptoms of one-sided tinnitus are present to get tested and learn about treatment options.
During an initial visit, a doctor will usually ask about your symptoms, medical history, and medication use. A simple hearing test can determine the severity of your tinnitus and hearing loss. A physical exam may reveal earwax buildup, infection, or injury in the inner ear. If an obvious cause cannot be discovered, a patient may need to have diagnostic imaging scans and provide blood samples.
A doctor can easily relieve one-sided tinnitus caused by earwax impaction by swabbing or washing the inner ear. If medications are to blame for symptoms, a patient may need to switch medications or stop using them if possible. Depression, Meniere’s disease and infections are treated accordingly with specialized medications. People who have lasting tinnitus or hearing loss despite treatment may need to wear hearing aids.
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