What Is That Buzzing Sound In My Ear- Tinnitus .An annoying ringing or buzzing sound in the ear is known as Tinnitus. This can occur without warning and for no particular reason. This irritating problem can be constant, intermittent or pulsating and can be the result of a more serious underlying condition such as an infection. While this is most commonly found to be a chronic disorder, it can be managed with proper treatments and methods. Tinnitus comes from the Latin word tinnitus which means ringing. It has been a peculiar problem for thousands of years with many varieties of treatments resulting from its existence. This condition can either be unilateral meaning one ear or bilateral meaning both ears.
Tinnitus can be divided into two specific types; Subjective refers to the type where only the person affected can hear it, while Objective refers to the type that a physician can hear upon examination. Subjective Tinnitus is very challenging to treat as the person affected is the only one able to hear the noise.
Tinnitus is caused by:
Obstruction due to fluid or wax buildup Ear infections Damage to the eardrum or the little bones in the middle ear Aspirin overdose Meniere’s disease Brain tumor Aneurysm Traumatic head injury, such as a severe blow to the head.
It is diagnosed by your health care professional who will get your medical history, perform a physical examination, and conduct special hearing tests such as an audiogram.
Other important tests:Auditory brain stem response (ABR), tests the hearing nerves and brain pathways CT scan MRI scan to rule out a tumor
Treatment:There is no specific treatment for tinnitus. You may have it for life or it could leave on its own, but you can introduce other noises into your environment that will allow you to not focus on the ringing in your ears.
Prevention:If you have a chronic disease such as hypertension, make sure to keep your blood pressure within normal limits. You can reduce your risks of getting tinnitus by avoiding loud noises, keeping blood pressure within normal limits, reducing stress and fatigue, and taking no more than the recommended dosage of medications that can cause tinnitus, such as aspirin.
Another tool at your disposal that is also cost effective in the fight against Tinnitus is introducing another sound into the room. This additional noise can be from a fan or anything else that allows you to focus on it rather than the buzzing in your ears. Referred to as “white noise” these distracting sounds are highly effective in combating Tinnitus.
Consult with your health care provider to rule out other causes for this condition. Adding a little white noise to your surroundings can make you forget about your tinnitus in a beautiful way.