Tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is when patients hear ringing or other sounds from no outside source. Patients can perceive these sounds as soft or loud. Tinnitus can occur either with or without hearing loss. It can be perceived in one or both ears and the head.
However, tinnitus is constant or recurs in some severe cases and interferes with their daily lives. This condition may cause them a loss of sleep, difficulty concentrating or reading, frustration and depression.
Tinnitus can occur in people of all ages, but it is not so common in children.
Symptoms & Causes of Tinnitus
The symptoms of tinnitus are:
-
Hearing a noise in the ears, such as ringing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, or whistling; the noise may be intermittent or continuous
-
Most of the time, only the person with tinnitus can hear it (subjective tinnitus). However, there are some types that the doctor can hear if a stethoscope is put in the ear (objective tinnitus).
-
The noise is accompanied by pain or drainage from the ear; these may be signs of an ear infection.
-
The noise is accompanied by dizziness; this may be a sign of Meniere's disease or a neurological problem. Seek medical care immediately.
​
Although there is no exact cause of tinnitus, the most common and identifiable causes are:
-
Hearing loss
-
Exposure to loud noises
-
Head injury
-
Side effects from certain medications
-
Low or high blood pressure (hypotension or hypertension)
-
Wax build-up in the ear canal
-
Fluid build-up behind the eardrum
-
Problems with the heart, blood vessels, neck, jaw or teeth
-
Aging
-
Certain medications (aspirin, diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), quinine-based medication, and certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and cancer drugs)
-
Ear and sinus infections
-
Changes in your inner ear bones, an inner ear disorder called Meniere's disease, or head and neck injuries
Treatment for Tinnitus
If musculoskeletal disorders cause tinnitus, our physiotherapists at Fizo Kare Physiotherapy can help by addressing the common musculoskeletal impairments such as stiffness or hypermobility of cervical spine joints, myofascial trigger points to the sub occipitals, upper trapezius, levator scapulae, or sternocleidomastoid muscles, TMJ disorders, and presence of forwarding head posture and forward rounded shoulder.