Tinnitus
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the sound of ringing, roaring, buzzing,
or clicking that occurs inside the head. The sounds:
• may come and go
• may be continuous
• vary in pitch
• may occur in one or both ears
Currently, there are approximately 36 million people in the
United States who suffer from tinnitus.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus may result from a variety of causes, including:
• damage to the nerve endings in the inner
ear
• stiffening of
bones in the middle ear
• advancing age
• exposure to loud noises
• allergy
• high or low blood pressure
• tumor
• diabetes
• thyroid problems
• head or neck injury
• reaction to certain medications
Treatment for tinnitus:
Specific treatment will be determined by the physician(s) based
on:
• patient's age, overall health, and medical
history
• extent of the disease
• expectations for the course of the disease
• patient's tolerance for specific medications,
procedures, or therapies
• patient's (or family's) opinion or preference
Generally, there is no specific treatment for tinnitus. If a
particular cause can be identified, treatment for the cause
may reduce or eliminate tinnitus.
Suggestions for reducing the severity of tinnitus include:
• have blood pressure checked
• decrease intake of salt, which impairs blood circulation
• avoid stimulants such as coffee, colas, and tobacco
• exercise daily to improve blood circulation
• get adequate rest
• learn to ignore the sounds of tinnitus as much as possible
• hearing aid(s) may reduce the sounds of tinnitus
• mask the sounds of tinnitus with other, low-level sounds such as a ticking clock or specially-purchased
"white noise" products
