If you hear ringing in your ears more often than not, you know just how bothersome or distracting this noise can be. And that it's distinctly different from those random, phantom sounds you might have heard on rare occasions after standing up too fast or while dealing with a headache. Show "Hearing continuous sound in one or both of your ears is called tinnitus," says Dr. Jeffrey Vrabec, an ENT doctor specializing in neurotology at Houston Methodist. "It's most often described as a ringing, but people can hear tinnitus differently." The common descriptions of what tinnitus sounds like include:
"Tinnitus can vary over time, sometimes becoming fairly disruptive and even debilitating," says Dr. Vrabec. "If it's the most important thing you think about and it's keeping you from carrying out or enjoying daily activities, it's certainly time to do something about it." What causes ringing in your ears?"Hearing a continuous ringing in your ears is almost always a side effect of hearing loss, typically an early indication of it," says Dr. Vrabec. "Hearing loss happens in your ears, but the resulting ringing you may hear as a result does not. It's happening in your brain." Your brain plays an integral role in hearing — making sense of the sounds around you by processing the information received from your ears. It helps you focus on the most relevant sounds you're hearing, distinguishing these from background sounds and filtering out unwanted noise. As you can imagine, this is a busy job for your brain. Hearing loss reduces the amount of sound your brain has to interpret, giving it less to do. Tinnitus is one unwanted consequence. "When your auditory cortex — the part of your brain responsible for hearing — is bored, it starts looking for something to do, some sound to interpret," explains Dr. Vrabec. "Tinnitus occurs as a consequence of that, and it's essentially the result of your brain reacting to hearing loss. Since the input to your brain has changed, your brain begins to misinterpret what's actually there, resulting in the perception of other sounds, namely ringing." This is why people often hear the ringing in both ears and sometimes can't pinpoint where exactly the sound is coming from. How do you stop the ringing in your ears?The first step to treating tinnitus is to get your hearing checked by an audiologist. "If you are hearing continuous sound in your ears, it is very likely some measurable hearing loss is present," says Dr. Vrabec. "A hearing test will uncover how severe the hearing loss is or whether your tinnitus may be the result of something else." If you have hearing loss and worsening tinnitus, the good news is that you don't have to live with a never-ending soundtrack of unwanted noise. "When treating tinnitus, the goal is to activate and condition your auditory cortex — reinforcing it to listen to real sounds and training it to not think about the unwanted noise it's perceiving," says Dr. Vrabec. "So we're not actually removing the tinnitus, we're just eliminating your brain's attention to it. This is accomplished by listening to masking sounds, some comforting sounds you can play in the background, such as rain, a stream or waterfall, the beach." "These types of sounds are quite valuable at inhibiting the perception of tinnitus," says Dr. Vrabec. "They keep your brain busy, making it less likely to fixate on the ringing." Most people find success in using masking sounds to reduce their tinnitus, but this isn't always the case. "If your symptoms continue to progress or worsen, let your doctor know," says Dr. Vrabec. "There are medications that can be considered." It's also important to consult a doctor about your symptoms since, in rare cases, tinnitus can be a side effect of something other than hearing loss, which can change how your doctor approaches your care. With tinnitus, it’s typical to have good and bad days but why? Tinnitus is the medical name for ringing in the ears, a condition that more than 45 million Americans experience, according to the American Tinnitus Association, and 90 percent of them also have some level of hearing loss. But what is difficult to comprehend is why it’s virtually non-existent on some days and on others the ringing is so invasive. It’s not entirely clear why this occurs, but some typical triggers may clarify it. What Is Tinnitus?Tinnitus describes a condition where the patient hears phantom noises such as:
You hear it, the guy beside you can’t, which is part of what makes tinnitus so disturbing. The noise can vary in pitch and volume, too. It may be gone one day and the next it’s a roar. Exactly What is The Cause of Tinnitus?Alterations in a person’s hearing are the most prevalent cause. These changes may be due to:
A few other possible causes include:
For a small fraction of people, there is no apparent explanation for them to have tinnitus. If your tinnitus has just started, see your doctor to determine what is going on with your ears. The issue could be a symptom of a life threatening condition like heart disease or it might be something treatable. A side effect of a new medication may also be the cause. Why Does the Ringing Get Worse on Some Days?For those who have tinnitus it’s a medical mystery why it gets worse on some days. The reason could be different for each person, also. However, there may be some common triggers. Loud EventsYour tinnitus can be aggravated by loud events such as concerts, club music, and fireworks. The number one way to go is to use hearing protection if you expect a lot of noise. They make earplugs, for example, that will permit you to enjoy music at a concert but reduce the impact it has on your ears. Another thing you can do is to put some distance between you and the source of the noise. When you go to a fireworks show don’t go up front and stay away from the front row at a live performance. Combined with hearing protection, this will diminish the impact. Loud Noises at Home Loud noises in your house can also be harmful. Tinnitus can be triggered by a lawn mower for example. Think about other things you do at home that could be an issue:
If you can’t avoid loud noises at least use hearing protection. Noises at WorkLoud noises at work are just as harmful as any other. It’s particularly important to use hearing protection if you work in construction or are around machinery. Your employer will most likely provide hearing protection if you inform them of your worries. Let your ears rest during your off time. Air Pressure ChangesMany people have experienced ear popping when they fly. An increase in tinnitus can happen from the noise of the plane engine and the change in pressure. If you are traveling, take some gum with you to help neutralize the air pressure and think about ear protection. Changes in air pressure happen everywhere not just on a plane. Taking the right medication to alleviate sinus pressure is also helpful. MedicationSpeaking of medication, that could also be the issue. Certain drugs are ototoxic, meaning they have an impact on the ears. Included on this list are these common medications:
Consult your doctor if you experience a worsening of tinnitus after you begin taking a new prescription. It may be feasible to switch to something else. Tinnitus is an annoyance for some people, but for others, it can be disabling. The first step is to find out what’s causing it and then consider ways to keep it under control from day to day. |
Why does your ear randomly start ringing
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 nguoilontuoi Inc.
