Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of Tinnitus

While for some, tinnitus might be just a nuisance, for others it adversely affects life. Tinnitus is that ringing, buzzing, whooshing, ocean wave, humming, pulsing or singing sound that some people hear inside their head - sometimes constantly, and sometimes intermittently.

Tinnitus, pronounced ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-I-tus is that perception of sound inside the ears or head that won't go away. It's not caused by something that is happening outside of the body - there is no external source for the sound. As annoying as it is, there is usually no serious medical cause, although there can be. High blood pressure could cause tinnitus, as can damage to the ear due to constant loud noise, or even the effects of old age. Trauma to the head, or long-term use of certain medications could cause tinnitus. Often, there is no identifiable cause for tinnitus.

Most people are not all that bothered by tinnitus, only noticing it occasionally, and being able to pretty much ignore it. Many people have tinnitus for years and never find it bothersome enough to even mention. For some though, the noise is loud enough to impair hearing and to become a very irritating part of life.

Tinnitus can be treated in a number of ways and the treatment will depend on the cause. If tinnitus is caused by aging or damage, there may be no cure, but a plan for management to keep the condition from worsening. Cochlear implants have been used with success for some people. Some have benefited from using herbal supplements that include ginkgo and zinc in them. For some people a medication change may be in order, and for some such as those with undiagnosed high blood pressure, the tinnitus will go away once the blood pressure is treated successfully.

Tinnitus can be a serious problem for some and a minor annoyance for others. If you suffer from tinnitus and you are having trouble functioning because of it, see your doctor to make sure you haven't got an underlying medical condition that needs treatment. If you are otherwise healthy, you may want to explore some of the treatments available from acupuncture to herbal supplements.

Find out how to cope with Tinnitus