Tinnitus

A ringing, buzzing, whistling, hissing or other noise, heard in the ear in the absence of environmental noise.

Tinnitus, from the Latin word "tinnire," meaning to ring or tinkle like a bell, is a hearing ailment that affects over 35 million Americans. Most often, it affects people over the age of 40, but it is now being seen more frequently in young people who are exposed to loud, amplified music.

Tinnitus is characterized by annoying ear noises, which can be soft as a whistle or loud enough to be completely debilitating. Tinnitus can also cause sleep disturbance and interfere with concentration.

Tinnitus is not a disease in itself, but a symptom that something is wrong in the auditory system. While theories exist, the actual mechanism responsible for tinnitus remains unknown, as does the origin of the ear noises. But tinnitus is not just in the patient's imagination. It is a physiological or neurological event that has not yet been identified.

Tinnitus can occur in a single episode, temporarily for a few days or weeks, or permanently. It can occur in one ear (unilaterally) or both ears (bilaterally). While more common in both ears, the rare unilateral ailment can be more serious.

Acoustic trauma, from noises such as loud music, concerts and gunshots, can cause tinnitus.

Noises that can cause tinnitus with long-term exposure occur in the home and workplace environments. These include noise from welding equipment, power saws, jackhammers, vacuum cleaners, power mowers, snow blowers and some kitchen appliances.

The loud, sustained sounds created by recreational machines, such as powerboats and snowmobiles, can also be damaging.

Other causes of tinnitus are allergies, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, ear wax buildup, tumors, Meniere's disease, medications (sometimes too much aspirin) and old age (the natural degeneration of hearing).

A rare form of tinnitus is caused by abnormalities in blood vessels around the ear which cause noise when muscles contract in the ear.

When physicians can identify the cause of tinnitus (e.g., earwax buildup, high cholesterol or the presence of a tumor), relief may be possible through treatment available for those conditions.