Tinnitus is the periodic or persistent sensation of noises, such as ringing or buzzing, in the ears. It is not a disease but rather a set of symptoms that may be linked to any number of medical disorders. If you experience noisiness in your ears that is not coming from an actual source, it is very important to see a medical professional. It could be a sign of a more serious medical condition, so getting a proper diagnosis is critical.
Talking to Your Doctor
It is advised that you see your regular doctor and explain what symptoms you are experiencing. Quite often, people who have experienced some sort of trauma, have a dietary deficiency, or suffer from neural damage will show symptoms that are classified as tinnitus. You will probably be given a questionnaire that asks about specific symptoms. If the doctor believes that you are hearing nonexistent noises that are the brain’s interpretations of some sort of signal, he or she will probably recommend you to a specialist.
Who to see next will depend on the secondary symptoms you are experiencing. These can include mood swings, irritability, sleep disorders, and problems with cognitive functions. In most cases, patients are referred to an audiologist.
Talking to an Audiologist
An audiologist will perform a more complex set of tests on your auditory system. Many patients who have symptoms of tinnitus are found to have an abnormal bone growth in the skull base. This puts pressure on the surrounding tissue and can excite the auditory nerve. Another cause of tinnitus symptoms is a middle-ear infection. Benign tumors growing on the auditory nerve itself can cause ringing in the ears.
Pulsating tinnitus is usually linked to a disorder in the vascular system. This is commonly seen in patients who have suffered a recent injury such as whiplash. Hypertension is also sometimes linked to symptoms of rhythmic sounds being heard by the patient.
The audiologist will perform tests that eliminate some or all of these possibilities. If a final diagnosis still cannot be made at this point, you may be referred to another specialist who can perform more thorough investigations through the use of X-rays or other types of scans.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Nearly 90% of patients report partial hearing loss in addition to their tinnitus symptoms. An audiologist will perform a set of tests that determine your ability to discern tones in both your ears. Changes in the pitch of these tones often link your symptoms with a particular cause.
If a direct cause of your tinnitus is determined and a final diagnosis made, treatment options will be established to help you deal with the condition. If there is a primary medical cause for your tinnitus, the diagnosis may suggest surgery, therapy, medications, or a combination of the three.
