Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) may be unilateral or bilateral, permanent or temporary. The very tone of the call or its severity may fluctuate, throb, gradually increase or decrease.
Tinnitus is considered chronic if it lasts more than six months.
In 25% of cases, this noise considerably spoils people's lives and interfere with work.
In men, tinnitus is more common.
Tinnitus can reach people, but usually it is not associated with any serious disease.
The causes of tinnitus
Tinnitus usually starts because of damage to delicate processes of sensory cells in the inner ear. When cells are damaged or suffer severe overload, they are sent to the brain for other signals. Sometimes it creates a feeling of tinnitus. Of course this only hear the ringing of the patient himself and no one else.
Sensitive cells are damaged just from old age, after exposure to very loud noise, some medications or diseases. The damage can be temporary, but the ringing still remains constant.
Sometimes the ringing is not connected with hearing. The reasons could be a problem in the joint of the lower jaw, neck trauma, anxiety disorders.
The age of hearing loss
With age, people weakened hearing. Sometimes this is accompanied by ringing in the ears.
Exposure to noise
Prolonged exposure to loud noise (motors, shots or even loud music) can lead to permanent hearing loss and ringing in the ears.
other causes
Many different conditions can change the hearing:
- medications;
- Chronic otitis media;
- neoplasms;
- Changes in blood vessels;
- Neurological disease;
- Innate characteristics.
The symptoms of tinnitus
In addition to the ringing can be a feeling of pulsation and vibration in the ear. These symptoms may vary during physical exertion, or change in body position. there are clicking sounds in neurological disorders.
Diagnosis
All people with tinnitus to explore, not to miss a serious illness. First hearing will be checked, and then - the nervous system.
Treatment
In most cases, tinnitus can not be cured completely. The doctor will try to fix the cause and reduce the noise itself.
hearing loss
Hearing aids, which are used at age hearing loss can reduce tinnitus. If other sounds are clearer, less people notice the internal ringing.
In some cases, you need to stop taking drugs that provoke hearing loss.
Depression
People with tinnitus often occurs depression. Sometimes antidepressant treatment reduces tinnitus.
Insomnia
When tinnitus interferes with sleep, the doctor will prescribe sleeping pills and recommend special treatment.
Retrening therapy
This method of treatment used in specialized centers. Patients offer to wear devices that generate a particular noise. Within one - two years of patients to adapt to such a noise, followed by a normal ringing as irritating is no longer perceived in the ears. This method of treatment is effective in about 80% of cases.
masking noise
In some cases, use masking noise, which does not reduce the sensitivity to tinnitus, but distracts the patient. This can be a special headset, or just quiet music.
Psychotherapy
Different types of psychotherapy to help people change their attitude towards tinnitus or reduce ringing about the same as some randomly change their pulse.
Other treatments
There are many treatment options available, the effectiveness of which has not been proven in scientific studies. From these methods do not give up, because in some cases they can help:
- Electrical stimulation;
- Acupuncture;
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation;
- Herbal preparations. They say that in some cases may be effective Ginkgo Biloba and melatonin;
- Vitamins and minerals. Some patients reported the effect of niacin, zinc and copper.
Forecast
Approximately 25% of cases has been increasing tinnitus. Even with effective treatment, he completely fails. Sometimes with age markedly reduced hearing, and with it, and ringing.
