Sometimes I hear ringing in my ear, is this normal?
Not completely. These sounds in the head are generally called tinnitus and are very common. Tinnitus may occur from time to time or you may hear a sound constantly. It can be very thick or very thin, you can hear it in one or both ears. When the ringtone is constant, it can make the person very uncomfortable. This discomfort can even go up to the extent that it affects the normal lives of people.
Can other people hear this voice in my ear?
This usually does not happen, but in some cases the listener may hear some sort of sound. This type of tinnitus is called objective tinnitus. It mostly develops either due to a vascular abnormality or due to the sounds that occur in the middle ear as a result of the contraction of the muscles.
What is the cause of tinnitus?
There are many possible causes of subjective tinnitus, where the sound is only heard by the patient. Some causes are not bad (for example, a small earwax can cause tinnitus temporarily). In addition, there may be more important causes such as infection, perforation of the eardrum, fluid accumulation in the middle ear, and hardening of the joints of the bones in the middle ear. Tinnitus can also be caused by vasodilation (aneurysm) in the head and neck region or a tumor originating from the nerve that provides balance and hearing (acoustic neuroma). These problems also include hearing loss. Allergy, high or low blood pressure, tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, blows to the head and neck area and many other causes: some rheumatism drugs, some antibiotics, tranquilizers and aspirin can cause tinnitus. Treatment for each condition is very different. For this reason, it is very important to check with a specialist doctor and find the real cause of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is most often caused by damage to the ends of the auditory nerves that are small enough to be seen with a microscope. The health of these nerve endings ensures accurate and precise hearing, and any damage to them leads to hearing loss and tinnitus. With advanced age, some changes occur in the nerve endings and this brings tinnitus. Loud noise is probably the most common cause of tinnitus in today's world and also causes hearing loss. Unfortunately, many people either do not know or care how harmful industrial noise, fire alarms, loud music and other noises are. Listening to loud music with stereo headphones increases the risk even more.
Is there a cure for tinnitus?
In most cases, there is no specific treatment. If your doctor finds the real cause, the ringing in your ears will disappear as a result of treatment aimed at eliminating it. For this, some x-rays and balance tests may be needed. Despite these, the cause of tinnitus is often not found. Although the cause has not been revealed, in some cases, medications are helpful. There are many drugs used. Usually, the patient is recommended to take medication and is asked if the result is obtained.
If no cause can be identified, can something be done to reduce the ringing?
Yeah. The following dos and don'ts will help reduce your tinnitus. First of all, it should be remembered that the hearing system is the most sensitive and fragile system of the body. Therefore, it is recommended that you do the following. Avoid exposure to loud music. Have your blood pressure checked constantly. See your doctor to have it under control. Limit your salt intake (excess salt will disrupt your circulatory system.) Avoid salty foods and do not add salt to your food. Avoid coffee, cola and cigarettes, which have a stimulating effect on the nervous system. Daily exercises regulate your blood flow. Get enough rest and avoid getting too tired. Don't worry about the sound. Your tinnitus does not make you deaf or lose your mind. Accept these sounds as a disturbing but insignificant fact and learn to ignore them as much as possible. This type of control can be achieved either by self-advocacy or by masking. Minimize your nervousness and tension.
What is tinnitus masking?
Tinnitus is more irritating at night, especially when the environment is quiet. A sound that can compete with tinnitus, the ticking of a clock or a radio, will reduce the discomfort. Some doctors recommend listening to FM channels at low volume: Many patients have stated that they find it beneficial to listen to the sound of the radio that is not tuned between two stations at a low volume. Such a static sound can be very soothing. This sound is known as white noise. Some patients use electronic devices that produce soothing sounds. A tinnitus masker is a small electronic piece that is built into or added to the hearing aid. It produces a continuous but non-disturbing sound, allowing the person to forget about tinnitus.
As a result; Before starting any treatment for your tinnitus, you should definitely undergo a careful examination by an otolaryngologist.
