It Could Be An Underlying Medical Condition – Causes of Ear Ringing
Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is not an infection or disease of sorts. Instead, it could just be one of the symptoms of a particular medical condition. It is like an alarm telling you that an unhealthy condition has taken place inside your body. It is then recommended that you go visit your doctor when you experience the unwanted sound to have the condition that you may be suffering from diagnosed. There are cases, though, when the root cause cannot be determined.
The causes of tinnitus include:
- Acoustic neuroma – It is a benign or noncancerous tumor. It is found to develop on the cranial nerve, which runs from the brain to the inner ear, controlling balance and hearing.
- Age-related loss of hearing – It is also known as presbycusis. It usually starts around age 60.
- Changes in ear bones – When the bones in the middle ear stiffen (otosclerosis), your hearing may get affected and result to tinnitis.
- Earwax blockage – It takes place when too much earwax accumulates, and it becomes difficult to wash away naturally.
- Meniere’s Disease – It as an inner ear disorder often associated with the fluctuations in the inner ear fluid volume.
- Noise-induced cochlear damage – It is basically caused by repeated exposure of the ears to loud noises. Playing portable music devices such as MP3 players loudly for long periods is a common cause of the condition.
- Ototoxicity – Long-term use of certain drugs may cause this. Drugs that are harmful to the ears are described as ototoxic. Common examples are analgesics (aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), antibiotics (aminoglycosides, erythromycin), and chemotherapy medications (bleomycin, methotrexate)
The causes of ear ringing are where the tinnitus treatments are generally directed to. Tests are run to have the source determined with a fair degree of certainty. Specialized tests may also have to be conducted. Examples are X-ray, ultrasound, audiogram, residual inhibition, and evoked response audiometry.
Furthermore, treatment options for ringing in the ears include alternative treatments, amplification (generally with the use of hearing aids), cochlear implants or electrical stimulation, cognitive therapy, drug therapy, and sound therapy.
Natural treatments should also be taken into consideration. These include reducing salt intake, exercising properly and regularly, getting enough sleep at night, and staying away from unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive drinking. It would likewise help if you have a positive mental attitude and do not get stressed very easily.
