Yeni Yüzyıl University Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital, Head of Ear Nose and Throat Diseases Department, Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Ahmet Bayazıt made statements about 'tinnitus'.
Bayazıt explains, “Tinnitus is when you hear ringing or other sounds in one or both ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus is not caused by an external sound and other people usually cannot hear it. Tinnitus is a common problem. It affects about 15% to 20% of people and is more common especially in later ages.” Bayazıt said, “Tinnitus can usually be caused by age-related hearing loss, exposure to loud noise or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or other treatments that reduce and mask the tinnitus and can make the tinnitus less noticeable.” used the phrases.
Stating that most people with tinnitus have tinnitus that only they can hear, Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Ahmet Bayazıt: “The sounds of tinnitus can range from a low roar to a loud squeak and you can hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, the volume can be so loud that it prevents you from concentrating or hearing other sounds. Tinnitus may be present all the time or it may come and go. In rare cases, tinnitus may present as a rhythmic pulse or humming sound, usually at the same time as your heartbeat. This is called pulsatile tinnitus. If you have pulsatile tinnitus, your doctor may hear your tinnitus when he or she examines you.
See your doctor as soon as possible
prof. Dr. Yıldırım Ahmet Bayazıt mentioned that tinnitus can affect the social and psychological state of daily life and warned, "If you have hearing loss or dizziness with tinnitus, or if you are experiencing anxiety or depression as a result of your tinnitus, contact your doctor as soon as possible."
Bayazıt continued his explanation as follows:
“In many people, tinnitus occurs for one of the reasons I will list. Hearing loss. Your inner ear (cochlea) has tiny, delicate hair cells that move when your ear receives sound waves. This action triggers electrical signals along the nerve that goes from your ear to your brain (auditory nerve). Your brain interprets these signals as sound. If the hair inside your inner ear is damaged, this happens as you get older or when you're regularly exposed to loud noises, your brain can detect random electrical impulses and cause tinnitus.
Ear infection or ear canal obstruction. Your ear canals can become clogged with fluid buildup (ear infection), earwax, or other foreign matter. A blockage can change the pressure in your ear, causing tinnitus.
Head or neck injuries. Head or neck trauma can affect the inner ear, auditory nerves, or brain functions associated with hearing. These types of injuries usually only cause ringing in one ear.
Medicines. Some medications can cause or worsen tinnitus. In general, the higher the dose of these drugs, the worse the tinnitus. When you stop using these drugs, the unwanted noise usually goes away.”
Yeni Yüzyıl University Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital, Head of Ear Nose and Throat Diseases Department, Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Ahmet Bayazıt listed less common causes of tinnitus as follows:
Meniere's disease: Tinnitus may be an early indicator of Meniere's disease, an inner ear disorder that can be caused by abnormal inner ear fluid pressure.
Eustachian tube dysfunction; In this case, the tube in your ear that connects the middle ear to your upper throat can always expand, making your ear feel full.
Structural disorders of ear ossicles; Hardening of the bones in your middle ear (otosclerosis) can affect your hearing and cause tinnitus. Caused by abnormal bone growth, this condition tends to run in families.
Muscle spasms in the inner ear: The muscles in the inner ear can stretch (spasm), which can cause tinnitus, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. This sometimes happens for no explainable reason, but it can also be caused by neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders:Problems with the TMJ, located on both sides of your head, in front of your ears, and where your lower jawbone meets your skull, can cause tinnitus.
Acoustic neuroma or other head and neck tumors: An acoustic neuroma is a non-cancerous (benign) tumor that develops in the cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear and controls balance and hearing. Other head, neck, or brain tumors can also cause tinnitus.
Blood vessel disorders:Conditions that affect your blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or bent or malformed blood vessels can cause blood to move more strongly through your veins and arteries. These blood flow changes can cause tinnitus or make tinnitus more pronounced.
Other chronic conditions: Conditions that include diabetes, thyroid problems, migraines, anemia, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have all been associated with tinnitus.
Also mentioning the risk factors, Bayazıt said, Exposure to loud noise:Loud noises such as heavy equipment, chainsaws, and firearms are common sources of noise-induced hearing loss. Portable music devices such as MP3 players can also cause noise-induced hearing loss if played at high volume for long periods of time. Those working in noisy environments, such as factory and construction workers, musicians and soldiers, are particularly at risk. Age: As you age, the number of functional nerve fibers in your ears decreases, possibly causing hearing problems associated with tinnitus.
Gender: Men are more likely to experience tinnitus.
Tobacco and alcohol use:Smokers have a higher risk of developing tinnitus. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of tinnitus.
Specific health problems: "Obesity, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and a history of arthritis or head injury increase your risk of tinnitus." he said.
What are the possible side effects of tinnitus (ringing)?
prof. Dr. Yıldırım Ahmet Bayazıt: “If you have tinnitus, you can also experience the following.” he said:
- feeling of burnout
- Stress
- Sleep problems
- Difficulty focusing
- memory problems
- Depression
- anxiety and irritability
- Headache
- Problems with work and family life
prof. Dr. Yıldırım Ahmet Bayazıt stated that some precautions can help prevent some types of tinnitus; “Use hearing protection equipment: Over time, exposure to loud noises can damage the nerves in the ear, causing hearing loss and tinnitus. Try to limit your exposure to loud noises. If you cannot avoid loud noises, wear ear protection to help protect your hearing. If you're a chainsaw, a musician, or work in an industry that uses noisy machinery or firearms (especially pistols or shotguns), always wear over-the-ear hearing protection.
Avoid loud noise: Prolonged exposure to amplified music without ear protection or listening to music with headphones at very high volume can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
Take care of your cardiovascular health: Exercising regularly, eating right, and taking other steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent tinnitus due to obesity and blood vessel disorders.
Limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine: These substances can affect blood flow and contribute to tinnitus, especially if used in excess.” used the phrases.
Bayazıt also listed the treatment methods as follows:
- Pharmaceutical applications
- TRT
- neuromonics
- Leisure
- Hearing Aid applications
- maskers
- Acupuncture
- Hypnosis
- Biofeedback
- TMS
- Botox application
- Electrical Warning/Tens