What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the scientific term for ringing or other sounds in the ear. It is a symptom of a possible underlying ear problem and not a diagnosis. While ringing is the most common sound people with tinnitus describe, some experience a humming or clicking sound, or a pulsing sound. In some cases, the sounds are so soft the person barely notices them. In other cases, however, they can be so loud as to interfere with normal hearing and cause distress. If you are experiencing unexplained sounds in your ears Harley St AVM can help to diagnose the cause

The Causes of Tinnitus

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide experience some degree of tinnitus, but it is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 80. The causes are many and include:

Exposure to loud noises: If you have been exposed to a sudden, loud noise such as an explosion, it may set off a ringing in your ear.
Age: As people age, their sense of hearing becomes less reliable. At the same time, the nerves in their ears are used to receiving a certain level of stimulation. When that doesn’t happen the nerve can cause you to hear things that aren’t there.
Ear injuries: People involved in car accidents or who suffer other types of injuries or trauma to the head/ear may develop tinnitus. Injury-related tinnitus usually manifests in one ear.
Medications: Certain medications such as antidepressants, NSAIDS (Tylenol etc) and antibiotics can cause tinnitus to develop in some people.
Infections or blockages: Ear infections sometimes result in tinnitus. In addition, if you haven’t had your ears cleaned in years and you develop tinnitus the two things may be related.

Suitable medical investigations are required in order to accurately diagnose the root cause of tinnitus. This includes full assessment of all auditory function including hearing test, tests of inner ear hair cell function, middle ear and eustachian tube function.

Can Tinnitus Be Treated?

Tinnitus can be managed effectively, but the exact treatment will largely depend on the cause of the tinnitus. The audiologists at Harley St AVM will likely need to perform one or more tests to help the medical consultant to arrive at an accurate diagnosis which they can then use to determine treatment.

Experiencing Tinnitus? Contact Harley St AVM

Tinnitus can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. The good news is that treatments exist that can help alleviate tinnitus symptoms. If you are bothered by a ringing in your ear, contact Harley St AVM today on 020 3480 9630.