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Tinnitus is a common ear issue characterized by a loud ringing emanating from the inside of the ear, even with no external noise present. While seemingly a minor annoyance, some experience excessively disrupting ringing, enough to keep them from becoming functioning members of society.
If you hear the characteristic loud ringing regularly and with increasing intensity, then it’s a good idea to set an appointment with a hearing clinic near you.
Tinnitus manifests from many things, ranging from broken or damaged hairs on one’s inner ears to turbulence in a carotid artery or jugular vein. The causes are so diverse that in many cases, patients never discover the exact cause of their condition.
It’s worthwhile to note that tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease by itself. This means that it is often indicative of other underlying conditions. Over 200 different health ailments can cause tinnitus as a symptom, making it extremely vital to see a hearing specialist from a reputable hearing clinic to diagnose the issue properly.
The most common conditions associated with tinnitus are the following:
As humans age, the different body parts that make the act of hearing possible start to deteriorate as well. This naturally results in hearing loss, with some people losing more than others. Tinnitus then becomes pronounced, especially with no external noise to mask the misfiring electrical signals caused by bent inner ear hairs or other conditions.
Exposure to loud noises coming from heavy machinery or loud music can cause hearing loss, leading to tinnitus.
Short-term exposure to noises, as is usually the case for rock concert-goers, results in loud ringing that generally goes away in time. The longer the exposure, the higher the chance that permanent damage can be done. As such, workers operating heavy machinery incur the most significant risk of suffering extreme tinnitus through years of exposure to loud noises at work.
Earwax is the body’s way of protecting your ear canal by trapping dust and suppressing bacterial growth. Earwax can even trap small insects that inadvertently enter your ear canal before they cause further damage.
Unfortunately, improper cleaning methods, such as using Q-tips, can lodge the earwax further into the ear canal. The earwax will then begin to accumulate and be impossible to dislodge without specialized equipment from a hearing clinic. The accumulated earwax can then irritate the eardrum and lead to tinnitus.
Injuries affecting the head or neck can negatively impact the inner ear, damaging hearing nerves and the parts of the brain linked to hearing. These injuries generally only produce tinnitus on one ear, which is usually on the side of the head or neck that received the impact.
In many cases, it does go away. This is usually the case with young people whose tinnitus occurred after short-term exposure to loud noises.
However, if the condition does not improve within a few hours, you may need to seek treatment from an Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor. This is particularly true if your tinnitus was caused by ear infections or excessive buildup of earwax. The only way to know for sure is to set an appointment with a hearing clinic near you.
As mentioned above, there can be several underlying conditions that may be causing your tinnitus. The vital thing to remember is that you don’t need to suffer in silence. Even people in their advanced age can still alleviate their Tinnitus by utilizing a hearing aid-like device that masks the characteristic loud ringing or buzzing.
Are you looking for a hearing clinic to help you manage the effects of tinnitus? Fraser Valley Beltone is a hearing clinic in Langley that can help you out! We’re dedicated to giving you the care and treatment you need to get the most out of life. Connect with us and book a hearing test today.