Tinnitus is ringing in the ears that can last for a long time or for a short time. Ringing in the ears can occur only in the right ear, in the left ear, or in both ears.
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of other conditions, such as disorders of the inner ear, disorders of the blood vessels, or side effects of medications.
Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is a condition that can be experienced by people of all ages, both children and the elderly. However, these symptoms are generally experienced by people who are over 60 years old.
Tinnitus Symptoms
Tinnitus is characterized by the sensation of hearing a sound, even though there is no sound around it. People with tinnitus may experience a sound sensation in only one ear, or in both ears. The sound sensation can be:
- hum
- hiss
- beat
- roar
- Roar
The sound sensation above can sound soft or loud. In some conditions, the sensation of sound seems to sound so loud that it interferes with concentration and masks the real sound around it.
Ringing in the ears can occur in the long term or come and go. Most of the sound of tinnitus can only be heard by the sufferer. In rare cases, tinnitus can also be heard by the doctor examining the patient's ear.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience ringing in the ears accompanied by dizziness and hearing loss. Examination by a doctor also needs to be done if the tinnitus appears after suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection and does not improve after one week.
Consult a doctor if ringing in the ears is accompanied by symptoms of Meniere's disease, such as frequent vertigo and ear fullness, to prevent the risk of permanent deafness.
High blood pressure can also cause ringing in the ears. Therefore, check your blood pressure regularly if you suffer from hypertension. If you experience ringing in your ears after taking medicines, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of these medicines.
Causes of Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears occurs when the fine hair cells in the ear are damaged. These fine hairs function to receive sound waves and convert them into electrical signals.
Furthermore, the auditory nerve in the ear will deliver these electrical signals to the brain. In the brain, these electrical signals are then translated into the sounds we hear.
When these fine hairs are damaged, the auditory nerve sends random electrical signals to the brain, causing ringing in the ears.
Some of the factors that can cause damage to the hairs inside the ear are:
Conditions that affect the ears
Most ringing in the ears is caused by the following conditions:
- Meniere's disease is an ear disorder that can cause vertigo and hearing loss.
- Injuries to the head and neck that affect the auditory nerve or the part of the brain connected to hearing function.
- Dysfunction of the eustachian tube or the canal in the ear that connects to the throat, can be the result of pregnancy, obesity, or radiotherapy.
- Tension in the muscles in the inner ear, for example from multiple sclerosis.
- Earwax is too much, so it accumulates and hardens in the ear canal.
- Hardening of the bones in the middle ear (otosclerosis), caused by abnormal bone growth.
- Benign tumor in the nerve connecting the brain and ear, which controls balance and hearing (acoustic neuroma).
Disorders of blood vessels
In rare cases, ringing in the ears can be caused by disorders of the blood vessels, for example:
- Tumor pressing on blood vessels in the head or neck.
- Impaired blood flow due to constriction of blood vessels in the neck.
- Abnormal blood vessels that are connected to one another.
- Cholesterol buildup in the blood vessels near the middle and inner ear.
- High blood pressure.
Drug side effects
Some medications can cause or worsen tinnitus, especially when taken in high doses. Sometimes, the tinnitus goes away after you stop taking this drug. Some of these drugs are:
- Antibiotics, including erythromycin and neomycin.
- Drugs for cancer, such as methotrexate and cisplatin.
- Diuretic drugs, eg furosemide.
- Antidepressants.
- Aspirin.
- Quinine.
Tinnitus Risk Factors
Ringing in the ears can be experienced by anyone, but people with the following factors are at a higher risk of developing tinnitus:
- Elderly, especially over the age of 60 years.
- Often hear sounds that are too loud, for example people who work as soldiers, musicians, workers in factories or construction.
- Male gender.
- Have a smoking habit.
- Unable to manage stress well.
- Frequent consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages
Tinnitus Diagnosis
When the patient experiences ringing in the ears, the ENT specialist will ask the patient to describe the type of sound heard, and perform a physical examination of the patient's ear.
Then, the doctor can check the patient's hearing function with audiometric tests. A CT scan or MRI scan will also be done if the doctor suspects that there is damage or abnormalities in the patient's internal organs.
Overcome Tinnitus
The method for treating ringing in the ears depends on the underlying cause. For example, by removing earwax that has accumulated, repairing disorders in the blood vessels with surgery, and changing the drugs the patient is currently taking.
Patients will undergo special therapy or be trained to get used to the sound of tinnitus if the tinnitus does not go away and is very disturbing. The trick is to:
- Sound therapy uses other sounds that can mask the tinnitus, such as raindrops or waves.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), to train the patient not to focus on the sound of the tinnitus being experienced.
Ringing in the ears can not be treated with drugs. However, there are a number of medications that can be used to reduce the severity of tinnitus symptoms, including:
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.
- Drug class benzodiazepines, as alprazolam.
People with ringing in the ears accompanied by hearing loss will be advised to use a hearing aid.
Tinnitus Complications
Ringing in the ears that occurs continuously can reduce the quality of life of the sufferer. Some conditions that can occur due to ringing in the ears are:
- Depression
- Hard to sleep
- Difficult to concentrate
- Easy to get angry
Tinnitus Prevention
Not all tinnitus can be prevented. However, in some cases, ringing in the ears can be prevented by taking the following steps:
- Set music in a less loud voice, especially when listening through headphones.
- Wear ear protection, especially if you are a soldier, musician or factory worker.
- Maintain a healthy heart and blood vessels, namely with a healthy diet and regular exercise.