Tinnitus is described as a ringing sound in your ear that you can hear even if there’s no noise around you, and it can affect either one or both of your ears. It’s a very uncomfortable sensation and could affect your day-to-day activities because of its nature.
Distractions are also bound to happen, especially in extreme cases. To avoid getting tinnitus, you should take it upon yourself to monitor your hearing. If you hear any sound, you should contact your ears checked, even if there’s nothing that generates it.
Tinnitus often occurs in adults and senior citizens. If you’re within that age range, you should also take care of your hearing. To understand more about tinnitus, read on below.
The Signs and Symptoms
The most common form of tinnitus manifests itself in the form of a ringing sound, akin to the ringing that a bell produces after it has been rung. A tell-tale sign is that only you can hear it even if you’re with other people and they don’t.
Aside from ringing sounds, tinnitus can also manifest in buzzing, wooshing, roaring, humming, or even hissing sounds.
The Causes
The significant causes of tinnitus are conditions such as ear injuries or even circulatory system problems. If you’re already suffering from early signs of tinnitus, you need to figure out and narrow down what triggers it because it can help you with long-term treatment.
A more prominent cause of tinnitus is constant exposure to loud sounds. This happens when the tiny hair cells in the cochlea get bent or broken because of these noises. These are what sends messages to the brain when hearing noises. When exposed to loud noises, they can send false impulses to the brain, which in turn causes tinnitus. Old age is also a frequent source of tinnitus due to the numerous hearing problems that come with age.
Head, neck, and ear injuries are also factors that can trigger tinnitus. If you experience hearing sounds after sustaining an injury, visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Treatment and Precaution
When you hear sounds that aren’t there, you should visit an audiologist immediately because there’s a high chance that it’s tinnitus. You will take an audiology exam to better determine if you actually have tinnitus or not.
A specialized hearing aid will be given to you if you have tinnitus. If you experience other sensations such as dizziness, anxiety, and even depression, you should seek medical intervention.
For precautions against tinnitus, you should always take it upon yourself to protect your ears. If you’re working in a noisy environment, such as a construction site or a factory, you should make sure that you’re wearing ear protection such as earplugs and earmuffs.
Aside from that, helmets can also offer protection because they protect the entire head and not just the ear. Lastly, do not deliberately expose your ears to noise. Using headphones and earbuds is fine, but make sure to allow time to rest your ears from listening to sounds in close range.
Conclusion
The thought of tinnitus can be very daunting. It’s like a scar that you have for life, especially in extreme cases, but tinnitus can be easily prevented by taking care of your ears. Aside from that, tinnitus can also be avoided if you seek medical attention when you notice the signs early on.
Tinnitus is not something to be taken lightly, and you should avoid it by doing routine hearing exams. If you’re looking for free hearing tests in Massachusetts, Hear More Associates has got your back! Aside from hearing tests, we also have hearing aids that are specialized according to a patient’s needs. Contact us today for a consultation!
