Tinnitus Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis

Tinnitus is a specific medical term, which refers to the way a person perceives and processes the surrounding sounds. As it is a special health condition, you may guess the perception of sounds is incorrect. It’s not a rare issue: every first out of five people face this problem. We cannot say that tinnitus is a disorder all alone. It is rather a sign of an underlying health condition, which is frequently met among the population of any country.

In most cases, it happens because of the aging. The trauma of ears or a circulatory system deviation are two other causes of tinnitus. You may calm down as the problem is not fatal. The proper treatment can resolve the issue effectively. The major signs of the condition include the individual perception of the surrounding sounds. Sometimes, the problem takes place in both ears; the other times, it attacks just one organ of hearing.

Some people report it has a throbbing behavior. It can be described as a highly pitched permanent noise. However, in some cases, tinnitus has a clock-ticking sound. Other people describe this sound like a hum. Often, the symptom is the smooth loss of hearing ability. The problem may pop out of nowhere and then disappear suddenly. The level of noise and tone change as well. It is difficult to define the nature and origins of the noise such patients hear.

It is necessary to understand what is the main reason for this phenomenon to happen. Most often, the problems with organs of hearing are supported by the mental issues. The mind of the potential ‘sacrifice’ may suffer. The problem with hearing loss is just the surface. There are times when people diagnosed with tinnitus do not experience a hearing loss, but face problems with the mind instead.

Once you survived the dramatic cold or powerful flu, your mind may still believe you are in the same condition, sending the corresponding impulses to your brain. That is how tinnitus shows up. Stressful situations usually lead to bad mood, anxiety, and depression, that also affect the ears. Are there any risk factors that predetermine the disorder? Tinnitus is a very spread health condition, which is not a standard health problem as we view fever, pneumonia, or else. However, the situation may get worse, and certain provoking factors exist. For instance, a noise exposure meaning an excessively loud sound might make the condition worse. People who work in a loud environment often report of this problem.

Watch the level of sound while you use your headphones; modern devices like iPads and smartphones warn their users about the risks of listening to music on the maximum volume. Concerts and rock gigs are two more risk factors. Moreover, people with bad habits, especially smoking, tend to have more troubles with hearing. The elderly male population is more frequently attacked by tinnitus than female population.

Is there a way to diagnose this common problem even though it is not officially a health condition? The individual should show the medical history to his doctor. It is necessary to describe the symptoms in details. Share which drugs you take. Give a full list to your doctor along with the OTC and supplements – it will help to define the problem more accurately. Loss of hearing is a common side effect, caused by various medications.

The physician might be interested in conducting a physical test with the focus on the lower body parts. Your head and neck are the target parts to analyze. It is obvious that the doctor will have to observe the hearing organs, especially the tympanic membranes. Another way is to involve a hearing examination. The best thing the doctor can do in this case is an audiogram to search for the core problem. Radiology exams can explore the structure of organs of hearing as well as other head organs.

Finally, some people ask whether it is possible to avoid tinnitus. Well, it is logical that the person must avoid risk factors such as exceeded noise level. It is better to change the environment (for instance, find a new job). Artists, technicians, and factory workers are under the biggest threat. Stop listening to music at the maximum volume. Any hearing injury may end up on tinnitus, in fact. Try to reduce the sound level you face every day, relax more in a silent, calm atmosphere. Apply special sound protection equipment if needed. That could be the ear-muffs, which also protect your sleep.