Causes and Diagnosis of Tinnitus

Have you ever suffered from an annoying swishing sound in your head that no one else hears?

If your answer is yes, then you’ve had an episode of tinnitus. This unpleasant condition is rarely serious but can be exceedingly annoying, characterized by a constant ringing in the ears that only the sufferer can hear.

The degree of annoyance this causes can vary. In mild cases it’s often possible to ignore the noise and concentrate on other things. Other times, the sounds become more obvious in the still of the night when everything is quiet, and this can interfere with sleep. For others, the sound intrusion is a constant nagging irritation and can greatly interfere with concentration, mood, and quality of life.

Who is Most at Risk?

Certain groups of people are more likely to develop tinnitus than others. Age and age-related hearing loss is one risk factor, with those over 65 more likely to suffer from the condition than younger people.

Also, Caucasians and men are over-represented in the statistics of those with tinnitus. Another group of people who tend to acquire tinnitus are those with exposure to loud noises and those suffering with post-traumatic stress syndrome.

What is the Cause of Tinnitus?

There are several known causes of tinnitus, although in some patients an underlying reason for their condition is never identified. Perhaps the most common causes are blood vessel disorders. These are wide and varied and include atherosclerosis (the arteries become hardened up with cholesterol), high blood pressure, deformities in the anatomy of the capillaries (tiny blood vessels), and tumors of the head and neck.

Some medications can cause tinnitus, although the risk is low. These include certain antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, anti-malarial treatments, and even common aspirin. If you are taking such a medication and develop tinnitus then always speak to your doctor first, rather than discontinue the treatment.

And finally, advancing age itself is a risk factor, along with more straightforward factors such as a buildup of ear wax, or exposure to loud noises.

How is Tinnitus Diagnosed?

This is likely to be a team effort between your doctor and your audiologist. The doctor will take a full history and check you out for underlying health problems, which could impact on your blood pressure and circulation. They will also closely examine the external ear for any excess wax or hairs rubbing on the eardrum.

In some cases, sophisticated imaging such as an MRI or CT scan may be necessary to look at the anatomy of the head, neck, and ear. Then your audiologist will become involved an run an audiogram to look at patterns of hearing loss (if present).

Once a firm diagnosis is reached, underlying problems such as high pressure need correcting. In addition, your audiologist can suggest strategies to minimize the noise intrusion of the constant ringing in your ears and help you to sleep.