Tinnitus can be a symptom of Ménière’s disease, an inner ear disorder that can also cause balance problems and hearing loss. Less common tinnitus risk factors include: A head/neck injury can damage structures of the ear, the nerve that carries sound signals to the brain, or areas of the brain that process sound, causing tinnitus. Blockage of the ear canal by earwax or by fluid from an ear infection can trigger tinnitus. Medications associated with tinnitus include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin), certain antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, anti-malaria medications, and antidepressants. Tinnitus can be a side effect of taking certain medications, especially if they are taken at high doses. Some people with hearing loss, however, never develop tinnitus. Hearing loss, which can be caused by factors such as aging or exposure to loud noise, is strongly associated with tinnitus. Tinnitus is also the most common service-related disability among veterans because of loud noise they may have experienced from gunfire, machinery, bomb blasts, or other similar sources. Many people experience tinnitus after being exposed to loud noise in a workplace setting or at a sporting event or concert. While the exact causes of tinnitus are not fully understood, it has been linked to the following:

Often, objective tinnitus has an identifiable cause and is treatable. In these cases, a doctor may be able to hear the sounds with a stethoscope and, if so, it is considered to be objective tinnitus. In rare cases, the sound pulsates rhythmically, often in time to your heartbeat. Most cases of tinnitus are subjective, meaning that only you can hear the sounds. This is called somatosensory (pronounced so-ma-toe-SENSE-uh-ree) tinnitus. Sometimes, moving your head, neck, or eyes, or touching certain parts of your body may produce tinnitus symptoms or temporarily change the quality of the perceived sound. It may come and go or be present all the time. The sound may be soft or loud and may be low or high pitched. The phantom sound may ring, buzz, roar, whistle, hum, click, hiss, or squeal. You may hear phantom sounds in one ear, in both ears, and in your head. The symptoms of tinnitus can vary significantly from person to person. Common approaches include the use of sound therapy devices (including hearing aids), behavioral therapies, and medications. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.Ĭurrently, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to reduce symptoms. However, some people find that it affects their mood and their ability to sleep or concentrate. Tinnitus is only rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. The causes of tinnitus are unclear, but most people who have it have some degree of hearing loss. When tinnitus lasts for three months or longer, it is considered chronic. For children and adults, tinnitus may improve or even go away over time, but in some cases, it worsens with time. Tinnitus is common, with surveys estimating that 10 to 25% of adults have it. Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing sound, but some people hear other types of sounds, such as roaring or buzzing. Tinnitus (pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-uh-tus) is the perception of sound that does not have an external source, so other people cannot hear it. Congressional Testimony and the NIDCD Budget.Research Training in NIDCD Laboratories (Intramural).Types of Research Training Funding Opportunities.About NIDCD's Research Training Program.Scientific Workshop and Meeting Reports.

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