Different Causes of Tinnitus

The Different Causes of Tinnitus Explained

Tinnitus is a symptom and not considered a health condition in its own right, but instead is almost always caused by something else. The following are the most common underlying causes of tinnitus:

Exposure to loud noises: Loud noise can damage the fragile inner workings of the ear. People who spend long nights in clubs where the decibel levels are through the roof often wind up with tinnitus. The same is true for those who work with or around noisy equipment. A sudden noise event like an explosion or gunshot can also trigger tinnitus.

Age related hearing loss: As people age many of them experience different degrees of hearing loss. When hearing loss occurs, your inner ears start to amplify sounds resulting in what we experience as a ringing sensation.

Injury/trauma: Traumatic injury can damage the inner workings of the ear or cause damage to sound receptors resulting in tinnitus.

Earwax or ear infections: Earwax buildup is a known cause of tinnitus and one of the most easily treated. Ear infections may also result in tinnitus that will often go away once the infection is resolved.

Medications: Antibiotics, antidepressants, NSAIDs such as Aspirin and some cancer drugs are known to produce tinnitus in some people.

Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s disease is a condition of unknown origin that affects the inner ear. Symptoms include vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. A vertigo specialist from Harley St AVM can diagnose this condition and provide treatment.