Ringing in the Ears - Tinnitus

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they are annoying, continuous or intermittent noises, perceived in the absence of external sound sources: ringing in the ears can regress in a short time or continually torment those affected.

Causes

Temporary ringing in the ears → caused by gunshot, loud music, etc.
Pathological ringing in the ears → can be caused by: neurological alterations (eg multiple sclerosis, head cancer), infections, excessive drug intake, ear muscle spasms, otological alterations (eg Ménière's disease, otitis, otosclerosis , ear wax plug), allergies, hypertension, anemia.

Symptoms

Tinnitus is always symptomatic; what changes is the intensity with which they occur. The perceived hum can in fact be described as: dull, sparkling, roaring, pulsating, piercing, hissing, rustling, tinnitus or whistling noise.

Among the possible complications we mention: depression, anxiety, sleep disorders.

Diagnosis

Although there are numerous diagnostic tests to ascertain ringing in the ears, it is rather complex to trace the cause of origin. The most used diagnostic tests are: audiometric test, movement test, imaging test.

Remedies and Medicines

The cure for ringing in the ears is only possible when the underlying cause is identified. If not, the drugs are aimed exclusively at relieving the buzzing: antihypertensives, antibiotics (in case of infection), antidepressants. Even the thorough cleaning of the ears, aimed at removing the ear plugs, can relieve the buzzing.

males are the category most exposed to the risk of tinnitus.

multiple;

Head trauma;

Ear tumors (eg acoustic neuroma);

Head and neck cancer.

The ringing in the ears of infectious origin they are an expression of:

Meningitis (infection sustained by meningococcus, pneumococcus od Haemophilus influenzae);
Syphilis (infection caused by Treponema pallidum).

Ringing in the ears can result from excessive / prolonged administration of some fdrugs or substances:

Alcoholic beverages;
Caffeine (abuse);
Aminoglycosides;
Loop diuretics;
NSAIDs;
Cytotoxic drugs;
Salicylates.

The ringing in the ears of muscle origin are due to:

Ear muscle spasms;
Spasms of muscles with common innervation (chewing muscles, muscles of the vault of the palate);
Tension of the muscles of the spine.

Ringing in the ears can be caused by otological alterations:

Changes in hearing;
Ménière's disease: pathological disorder due to the increase in pressure of liquids in the labyrinth, responsible for deafness, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting and dizziness;
Acute catarrhal otitis;
Otosclerosis: hereditary disease involving the ear (often both), characterized by progressive hearing loss due to the stiffening of the bone in the middle ear;
Presbycusis: progressive hearing loss due to the inexorable advancement of age;
Earwax plug: accumulation of earwax in the external ear canal.

Other Possible Causes

In some patients, the cause of ringing in the ears is to be found in alterations of the blood circulation (hypertension, atherosclerosis). Ringing in the ears is rarely due to allergies or anemic states.