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Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears): Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tinnitus?

It refers to any auditory perception not directly produced by an external sound. Tinnitus is commonly described as a "hissing, roaring, or ringing". It can range from high pitch to low pitch, consist of multiple tones, or sound like noise (having no tonal quality at all). Tinnitus may be constant, pulsed, or intermittent. It may begin suddenly, or may come on gradually. It can be perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.
Tinnitus is a sound or noise (e.g. ringing or buzzing) that an individual hears in their ears or head. This sound does not come from an outside source but rather internally. It can range from barely noticeable to extremely loud, and may cause the individual a great deal of stress and anxiety. If you would like some more information, please click here
Sometimes categorized as a " ringing in the ears, " tinnitus is the medical term for hearing sounds within the ear when there are no external sounds present. Hearing buzzing, hissing, roaring, whistling, humming are all indications that something has gone awry in the auditory system. Ranging from constant to intermittent, the level of symptoms can vary from annoying to very severe and debilitating.
Tinnitus, "ringing ears" or ear noise is a phenomenon of the nervous system connected to the ear, characterised by perception of a ringing, beating or roaring sound (often perceived as sinusoidal) with no external source. According to the American Tinnitus Association, tinnitus is pronounced two distinctly different ways, with both being acceptable: ti-NIGHT-us, or
Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as "ringing in the ears," although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant-with single or multiple tones-and its perceived volume can range from subtle to shattering.
Source: www.ata.org

Are there treatments for tinnitus?

Patients with tinnitus are often told by physicians and friends that there is nothing that can be done and to “learn to live with it.” However, in actuality, here at the Ear Institute of Texas we offer a number of treatments that our patients find beneficial. These alternatives included masking techniques, amplification, biofeedback, and prescription medications.

Is there a cure for Tinnitus?

No, there is not known cure for Tinnitus. That's not to say that people have not been cured. Many people have experienced a complete disappearance of their tinnitus. How this happens exactly is unexplainable but it is definitely possible to be cured.
There is no cure, per se, for tinnitus in that there is no one magic pill that will make the millions of people with tinnitus no longer hear the noises in their ears and head. However, in some cases, tinnitus can be quieted. For example, some people have excessive earwax that blocks outside sound from coming in. When ear wax or any foreign object, such as a hair, touches the eardrum, tinnitus can be a result. By having a physician or audiologist remove the wax, the source of the tinnitus is also removed. ...
Source: www.ata.org

Is tinnitus a disease?

In the true sense of the world, tinnitus is not a disease, but rather a symptom. By itself this symptom has no value indicative of any disease.

Is there a link with Tinnitus?

Although they can both occur independently roughly 10% of people with Tinnitus also report some over-sensitivity to noises that don’t disturb those around them

Can tinnitus be treated?

As one commentator put it, "there is nothing that has not been tried"to treat tinnitus. Psychological support and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) show some success but are lengthy and, at times, expensive options.

What causes tinnitus?

There are many causes of tinnitus. In about half the cases, tinnitus is connected with hearing loss, but it is also caused by frequent or sudden exposure to loud noise, by some medications, by head injuries or frequently for no apparent reason.
Objective Tinnitus may be caused by abnormalities in blood vessels around the outside of the ear or by muscle spasms, which may sound like clicks or crackling inside the middle ear. Subjective Tinnitus has many causes. Temporary Tinnitus may be caused by something as simple as a small plug of wax in the ear canal. If Tinnitus persists, however, it can be a symptom of a middle or inner ear problem. ...
It is still somewhat uncertain as to what specifically causes tinnitus. It can be as simple as a build up of wax or an ear infection. Some people experience tinnitus as a side effect to certain medications. Other causes are inner ear diseases or traumas to the head and neck. Frequent exposure to loud noises can also produce tinnitus.
The exact physiological and neurological causes of tinnitus are not known but there is some speculation that it may be caused by some of the following: wax build up, middle ear or sinus infections, perforated eardrums, exposure to extreme loud noises, jaw misalignment, thyroid disorders, head and neck injuries, certain medications and excessive use of alcohol and aspirin.

What can be done for tinnitus?

In very general terms, tinnitus is described as random noise such as ringing in the ear when no external noise exists. There are tinnitus maskers that create sounds that override the ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, etc. Some people claim limiting their consumption of caffeine, nicotine, salt, or alcohol may help. The cause and treatment of tinnitus can be very complex and you should consult with your doctor.
Source: hearhear.org

What if I have tinnitus?

If you have tinnitus you will still be able to use the program and will see results that are similar to the benefits that other users experience.

Can tinnitus be measured?

One of the first steps a doctor or audiologist will take is recording an audiogram. If tinnitus is accompanied by some form of hearing loss, them the individual tinnitus frequency is very often localized where hearing loss begins.

What is chronic tinnitus?

If a tinnitus which has newly occurred doss not disappear, but rather persists for more than 6 months, we call it chronic. When we speak of tinnitus we refer to chronic tinnitus only. In other words, we assume that your tinnitus has already been subject to various diagnostic regiments, which have produced no specific identifiable and treatable cause. Diagnostic procedures for tinnitus might typically involve an ENT specialist, neurologist and orthopedist. Mandibular causes need also be ruled out.

Is tinnitus the precursor of a disease?

Acute tinnitus as described in the introduction, is currently associated with some from of reduced blood Circulation. Because of the implications, in the view of many (but not all) doctors, this necessitates quick medical action with the goal to raise tissue oxygen supply. For chronic tinnitus, the answer is a decisive no. Tinnitus is neither a forerunner of stroke not a heart attack and the like.

What is acute tinnitus?

Medicine differentiates between acute tinnitus, which is a first-time event, usually of sudden onset, and chronic tinnitus. Acute tinnitus, in particular when accompanied by acute hearing loss, needs to be attended by a doctor quickly to exclude any underlying and possibly serious condition. Treatment of acute tinnitus and hearing loss may vary from country to country- in Europe it is probably given more attention than in the US. ...

What might cause tinnitus?

There are various causes including a plug of wax, allergy, ear infection, circulatory problems, certain medications, and prolonged exposure to loud noise. Dizziness, Vertigo & Meniere’s Disease
There are various causes including a plug of wax, allergy, ear infection, circulatory problems, certain medications, and prolonged exposure to loud noise.

Who experiences Tinnitus?

Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from tinnitus. Persons of all ages can experience ear ringing. Tinnitus is more common in the adult and senior populations. It usually happens gradually over a period of weeks, months, or years.

How is Tinnitus treated?

Treatment differs for each individual case of Tinnitus. Once the cause is determined, the doctor is able to decide on the most effective treatment. In most cases, there is no specific treatment. The doctor may be able to eliminate the noise based on the cause. In some cases, medicine may help reduce noise and discomfort. Back to Top Back to Earwax

Are there different types of Tinnitus?

There are two types of tinnitus: objective and subjective. Objective tinnitus can be heard by people around you, whereas only you can hear subjective tinnitus. The type of sound you hear can also differ. Tinnitus can be a continuous sound like a sea shell (Continuous) or pulsing like your heart beat (Pulsatile). Continunous tinnitus is the far more common type.

Does tinnitus interfere with hearing?

No, tinnitus does not interfere with hearing, although it may affect one's attention span and concentration. On the other hand, tinnitus might seem louder if hearing loss increases (or if you wear ear plugs or ear muffs) because outside sounds will no longer reduce the perception of tinnitus.

Is Clear Tinnitus safe?

Clear Tinnitus is safe for seniors and young adults. It will not raise blood pressure or increase heart rate, cause drowsiness and is non-habit forming.

Is Clear Tinnitus a cure?

Clear Tinnitus is not a cure. If you discontinue taking the product your Tinnitus will return.

Is there medical treatment for tinnitus?

Currently there is no medical treatment for tinnitus and there is no standard drug or medical procedure that cures Tinnitus.
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