Tinnitus is a physical condition, experienced as noises or ringing in a person's ears or head, when no such external physical noise is present. Tinnitus is not a disease in itself. It is a symptom of a fault in a person's auditory (hearing) system, which includes the ears and the brain.
According to discordant theory, tinnitus is induced by the discordant dysfunction of damaged OHCs and intact inner hair cells (IHCs) of the organ of Corti.
About tinnitus
Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body, rather than from an outside source. It's often described as "ringing in the ears", although several sounds can be heard, including: buzzing. humming.
In addition, tinnitus is often related to dysfunction of the Kidney Qi (which communicates with the ear), but other organs may be involved, including the Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen and Stomach. In the case of Excess, Liver Qi Stagnation can transform into Fire and flare upward to cause tinnitus.
While it has no clear cure or cause, it affects millions of people in the world on some level and can be challenging to cope with. Thankfully, it's entirely possible to live a normal life even with tinnitus.
Many studies have reported that poor cognitive performance was associated with tinnitus. However, unlike hearing loss, which has been reported to be an independent risk factor for dementia, the link between tinnitus and cognitive impairment remains unclear [1].
Loud noise will make tinnitus worse. To avoid further exposure to loud noise: wear ear protection such as earmuffs or earplugs for activities such as mowing the lawn, using a chainsaw or playing or listening to live music.
Tinnitus has been linked to vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies.
Pulsatile tinnitus is often caused by disorders or malformations in the blood vessels and arteries, especially those near the ears. These abnormalities or disorders — including aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations — can cause a change in the blood flow through the affected blood vessels.
Tinnitus is only rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, some people find that it affects their mood and their ability to sleep or concentrate. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.
Common tinnitus triggers include:
Stress/anxiety. Sleep deprivation. Certain noises. Loud noises and noise-induced hearing loss.
Microvascular compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve is known to cause disabling tinnitus and vertigo.
Serum magnesium levels are lower in people with tinnitus than the general population[3]. Increased susceptibility to noise damage, ototoxicity and auditory hyperexcitability have also been linked to magnesium deficiency[4].
Sometimes, tinnitus is a sign of high blood pressure, an allergy, or anemia. In rare cases, tinnitus is a sign of a serious problem such as a tumor or aneurysm. Other risk factors for tinnitus include temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), diabetes, thyroid problems, obesity, and head injury.
Visit your primary care provider (PCP) and audiologist. If your tinnitus continues beyond a week, becomes bothersome, starts to interfere with your sleep and/or your concentration, or makes you depressed or anxious, seek help from a trained healthcare professional.
Loud sounds can make your tinnitus even more bothersome. Traffic, loud music, construction – all of these can worsen tinnitus. Be sure to wear earplugs or another type of ear protection in order to prevent noise from making your tinnitus worse.
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière's disease usually affects only one ear.
In people with high blood pressure, tinnitus is a commonly reported complaint. Research published in the NCBI found that 44.4% of people with tinnitus also had hypertension. The connection between the two conditions relates to the delicate network of vessels in your auditory system.
Recent studies show that a person's experience with tinnitus originates with the brain, not the ears. One study from the University of Illinois found that sounds are processed differently in the brains of those with tinnitus than those without it.
Vitamin B12 – Vitamin B12 can help alleviate your tinnitus symptoms that are a result of noise damage. You can find vitamin B12 in mackerel, salmon, chicken, beef, and eggs.
Magnesium. Magnesium is essential in many bodily functions, including hearing. Decreased magnesium levels have been associated with tinnitus, and preliminary studies show that magnesium supplements likely benefit ear functions, suggesting it may help with tinnitus perception, though further research is needed.
The following supplements are frequently recommended for tinnitus patients: iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted De Novo approval to a bimodal (sound and tongue) neuromodulation device (Lenire; Neuromod, Dublin, Ireland) that improved patients' tinnitus symptoms more than sound therapy alone.