Ear Noises (Tinnitus) |
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 Tinnitus (from the Latin word for "ringing”) is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of an external sound. Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high-pitched buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling sound, "crickets" or beeping. It has also been described as an electrical or mechanical sound. If you hear a pounding or "whooshing" sound that matches your own pulse, you may be listening to the blood moving through your internal carotid artery which travels close to the middle ear. Other patients have popping sounds or squishing sounds when chewing. These sounds are more likely related to fluid in the middle ear or ear wax, or even an ear infection. A cracking sound may be related to a problem with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Very rapid bursts of clicking can be from spasms of an inner ear muscle. The sound of music or songs is a benign neurologic phenomenon within the brain. |
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CausesTinnitus may be generated in different parts of the nervous system: the receptor nerves in the cochlea, the acoustic nerves that carry those messages to the brain and sometimes the cells within the brain itself. No matter where these nerves are located, they are still working, but have a minor malfunction.Most of the time tinnitus is annoying and, yet, is not the start of a more serious problem. |
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 Nonetheless, tinnitus can be a warning that you should be protecting your ears from too much noise or that there is an overgrowth of the cells that surround the acoustic nerve. This growth is called an acoustic neuroma and may slowly enlarge to strangle the acoustic nerve. It is important to identify this benign tumor because it can cause irreversible hearing loss and dizziness and it can be treated. |
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Conditions associated with tinnitus
Tinnitus and hearing loss are usually permanent conditions. The best defense is to protect your ears from excess noise. There are 2 major factors: the loudness (in decibels, or dB) and the duration. A short exposure to a loud noise, such as a rock concert, explosion or a firearm, can cause immediate ringing and it means that cochlear nerves have been traumatized. The other type of nerve damage is more subtle because you don’t have any immediate tinnitus. This neural damage results from prolonged exposure to lower levels of noise, such as in a machine shop or listening to an iPod. For musicians and DJs, special musicians' earplugs and ear phones can lower the volume of the music without distorting the sound and can prevent tinnitus from developing in later years. Treatment When people say “There is nothing that can be done about my tinnitus”, there is some truth to this and some misconception. Even when there is not an easy solution, such as removing ear wax, there are steps that you can take to help to relieve the annoyance and concerns about this unwanted sound. The impact of tinnitus on some people’s lives is not to be dismissed. This can be a very disturbing problem for some people. For most, tinnitus can be heard when someone thinks about whether or not it is there. It is almost always louder when surrounded by silence. A significant issue is whether or not the tinnitus is keeping you from falling or staying asleep. Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a therapy designed to help people who suffer from tinnitus. TRT uses counseling to explain to the patient how a combination of tinnitus retraining and sound enrichment can end their negative reaction to the tinnitus sound, and then reduce and eventually end their perception of it. Frequently, noise generators are used in TRT to provide a background noise level. This therapy offers hope to sufferers who are willing to take the time and make the effort to learn and implement it. The notion that there is "no known cure" for tinnitus is a flawed concept. The perception of tinnitus can change. The brain has its own protective mechanisms and can help you become less aware of your tinnitus. Once you have been properly evaluated for the proper diagnosis and given an explanation of your condition, you can gain access to more information about tinnitus treatment. This handout are available in our Patient-only area: General Recommendations for Tinnitus Sufferers. Notable sufferers of tinnitus include: |
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 Well-known contemporary musicians: guitarist Jeff Beck , vocalist Bono, guitarist Eric Clapton, vocalist Phil Collins, drummer John Densmore (The Doors), Al Di Meola (jazz guitarist), The Edge (U2 guitarist), guitarist Paul Gilbert , Charlie Haden (jazz bassist), Ayumi Hamasaki (female vocalist), James Hetfield (Metallica guitarist), Al Jardine (Beach Boy guitarist), Eric Johnson (fusion guitarist), Myles Kennedy (vocalist and guitarist), Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Pepper vocalist), Ted Nugent, Sting, Moby (rock musician), Barbra Streisand , Pete Townshend , Thom Yorke (lead singer of Radiohead), Neil Young Classical music composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, César Franck, Bedrich Smetana |
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 Other contemporary figures: correspondent Robert Fisk, Carmine Giovinazzo (CSI actor), Kevin Hogan (social psychologist and author of Tinnitus: Turning Down the Volume), Guy Kawasaki (venture capitalist), Garrison Keillor, David Letterman, actors Steve Martin, Leonard Nimoy, Tony Randall, William Shatner, Sylvester Stallone, and the British politician Jack Straw Other historical figures: Martin Luther, Charles Darwin, Vincent van Gogh, and Howard Hughes |
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