Tinnitus is most commonly a symptom of old age.
However, there are a growing number of cases starting to affect younger people, thought to be caused by the increased levels of everyday noise, in today's society.
In the majority of cases the causes are benign (not harmful) with the most common cause of tinnitus being damage to the hearing nerves inside the inner ear.
The inner ear contains the cochlea, a coiled spiral tube, and auditory nerves.
Sounds pass from the outer ear, through the middle ear and in to the inner ear.
Sounds are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerves.
It is thought that if these tiny nerves become damaged, abnormal impulses are transmitted to your brain.
Your brain then interprets these impulses as sound and this is the noise you hear.
Natural hearing loss in older people lessens the sensitivity of the hearing nerves and is often the cause of tinnitus for them.
In younger people, excessive noise can sometimes damage the hearing nerves, loud music at a rock concert, for example.
As well as natural hearing deterioration or hearing damage, a number of other common factors can cause tinnitus, Including: •Ear infection.
(Middle or inner ear) •Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear.
(a hereditary condition) •Anaemia (the blood circulates more rapidly and may produce a sound) •A perforated eardrum •Glue ear •An excess or earwax (That causes the ear to become blocked) Whilst stress is not a direct cause of tinnitus it can often make the condition worse.
Less common causes of tinnitus may include: •Exposure to a very load noise (An explosion or nearby gunfire) •A Head injury •High blood pressure •Dental problems (impacted wisdom teeth, for example) •Solvent or alcohol abuse (or any form of drug abuse) •An overactive thyroid gland •A side-effect of certain medications (antibiotics or aspirin, for instance.
Most likely if the dosage is exceeded) If you are experiencing problems with your hearing, go and see your doctor or a medical professional.
Your doctor may refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who will undertake tests to determine the cause.
Occasionally, the exact cause cannot always be determined even after tests by a specialist.
However, they should still be able to offer counselling, and perhaps therapy, to try and control the noises you hear.
The information in this article is a guide only, it is not medical advice, before acting on any of this information or undertaking any treatment, you are advised to seek advice from a medical professional or go and see your own doctor.
by David Snowdon
However, there are a growing number of cases starting to affect younger people, thought to be caused by the increased levels of everyday noise, in today's society.
In the majority of cases the causes are benign (not harmful) with the most common cause of tinnitus being damage to the hearing nerves inside the inner ear.
The inner ear contains the cochlea, a coiled spiral tube, and auditory nerves.
Sounds pass from the outer ear, through the middle ear and in to the inner ear.
Sounds are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerves.
It is thought that if these tiny nerves become damaged, abnormal impulses are transmitted to your brain.
Your brain then interprets these impulses as sound and this is the noise you hear.
Natural hearing loss in older people lessens the sensitivity of the hearing nerves and is often the cause of tinnitus for them.
In younger people, excessive noise can sometimes damage the hearing nerves, loud music at a rock concert, for example.
As well as natural hearing deterioration or hearing damage, a number of other common factors can cause tinnitus, Including: •Ear infection.
(Middle or inner ear) •Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear.
(a hereditary condition) •Anaemia (the blood circulates more rapidly and may produce a sound) •A perforated eardrum •Glue ear •An excess or earwax (That causes the ear to become blocked) Whilst stress is not a direct cause of tinnitus it can often make the condition worse.
Less common causes of tinnitus may include: •Exposure to a very load noise (An explosion or nearby gunfire) •A Head injury •High blood pressure •Dental problems (impacted wisdom teeth, for example) •Solvent or alcohol abuse (or any form of drug abuse) •An overactive thyroid gland •A side-effect of certain medications (antibiotics or aspirin, for instance.
Most likely if the dosage is exceeded) If you are experiencing problems with your hearing, go and see your doctor or a medical professional.
Your doctor may refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who will undertake tests to determine the cause.
Occasionally, the exact cause cannot always be determined even after tests by a specialist.
However, they should still be able to offer counselling, and perhaps therapy, to try and control the noises you hear.
The information in this article is a guide only, it is not medical advice, before acting on any of this information or undertaking any treatment, you are advised to seek advice from a medical professional or go and see your own doctor.
by David Snowdon