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What
is it?
Tinnitus is a subjective experience where one hears a sound when
no external physical sound is present. Some call it "head noises,"
"ear-ringing," or use similar terms to describe it.
What
does the Word Tinnitus Mean?
The word is of Latin origin and it means "to tinkle or to ring
like a bell." It has two pronunciations, both correct: "ti-night-us"
or "tin-ni-tus".
What
Causes It?
There are many causes; indeed almost everything that can go wrong
with the ear has tinnitus associated with it as a symptom. Problems
ranging in severity from overproduction of wax to ear infections
to acoustic tumors can produce tinnitus. One of the most common
causes of tinnitus is exposure to excessively loud sounds either
on the job (musicians, carpenters, pilots) or recreationally (shooting,
chain saws, loud music). Sometimes problems not associated with
the ear can cause tinnitus such as disorders of the cervical vertebrae
(neck) or the temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Tinnitus can also
be caused by cardiovascular disease, allergies, an underactive
thyroid, or degeneration of the bones in the middle ear. It’s
important to note that more than 200 prescription and non-prescription
drugs list tinnitus as a potential side effect.
The
Auditory System
Do many people suffer from tinnitus? Yes. It is currently estimated
that 50 million American adults have tinnitus to some degree.
Of that number, 12 million have it severely enough to seek medical
help. During an average year, patients with severe tinnitus may
spend more money seeking help and treatment for their tinnitus
than they do for all of their other health conditions. Some patients,
however, seek no treatment in the mistaken belief that nothing
can be done to help them.
What
Is It Like To Have Tinnitus?
Fortunately, for most people their tinnitus is no more than a
nuisance. In its severe form, however, tinnitus can be a chronic
condition causing loss of concentration, sleep problems, and psychological
distress. It can also make a deteriorating hearing condition or
balance disorder appear worse. Tinnitus can fluctuate from day
to day, and even from hour to hour.
Do
We Know What Tinnitus Is?
The actual mechanism responsible for tinnitus is not yet known.
We do know that it is a real, not imagined, symptom of something
that has gone wrong in the auditory or neural system. There is
reason to be hopeful; current research efforts using a physiological
model may soon provide the necessary information for identifying
its cause(s).
Is It
Associated With Hearing Loss?
In most cases, tinnitus is associated with some hearing loss.
For example, those who have been exposed to excessively loud sounds
may have a high frequency hearing loss. Usually their tinnitus
will be identified as a high-pitched tone in the region of the
hearing loss. Tinnitus can be perceived as being in the ears or
in or around the head, and can have one or a variety of different
sounds such as ringing, hissing or roaring. In some cases tinnitus
is present where there is no loss of hearing.
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