The noise in your ears. (Hearing and Balance).Facts About Tinnitus Tinnitus Definition Tinnitus is hearing ringing, buzzing, or other sounds without an external cause. Patients may experience tinnitus in one or both ears or in the head. * What causes tinnitus? * What should I do if I have tinnitus? * How will hearing experts treat my tinnitus? * What can I do to help myself? * Where can I find more information? Do you hear a ringing, roaring ROARING. A disease among horses occasioned by the circumstance of the neck of the windpipe being too narrow for accelerated respiration; the disorder is frequently produced by sore throat or other topical inflammation. 2. , clicking, or hissing hiss n. 1. A sharp sibilant sound similar to a sustained s. 2. An expression of disapproval, contempt, or dissatisfaction conveyed by use of this sound. v. sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot? If you answer yes to these questions, you may have tinnitus (tin-NY-tus). Tinnitus is a symptom symptom /symp·tom/ (simp´tom) any subjective evidence of disease or of a patient's condition, i.e., such evidence as perceived by the patient; a change in a patient's condition indicative of some bodily or mental state. associated with many forms of hearing loss. It can also be a symptom of other health problems. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. estimates by the American Tinnitus Association, at least 12 million Americans have tinnitus. Of these, at least 1 million experience it so severely that it interferes with their daily activities. People with severe cases of tinnitus may find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep. What causes tinnitus? * Hearing loss. Doctors and scientists have discovered that people with different kinds of hearing loss also have tinnitus. * Loud noise. Too much exposure to loud noise can cause noise-induced hearing loss noise-induced hearing loss Temporary or permanent hearing loss caused either by a single exposure to very loud sound(s) or by repeated exposure to louder sounds over an extended period. See Hearing loss. and tinnitus. * Medicine. More than 200 medicines can cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and you take medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist pharmacist /phar·ma·cist/ (fahr´mah-sist) one who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispense drugs and compounds, and to make up prescriptions. phar·ma·cist n. whether your medicine could be involved. * Other health problems. Allergies Allergies Definition Allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system that occur in response to otherwise harmless substances. Description Allergies are among the most common of medical disorders. , tumors, and problems in the heart and blood vessels Blood vessels Tubular channels for blood transport, of which there are three principal types: arteries, capillaries, and veins. Only the larger arteries and veins in the body bear distinct names. , jaws, and neck can cause tinnitus. What should I do if I have tinnitus? The most important thing you can do is to go see your doctor. Your doctor can try to determine what is causing your tinnitus. He or she can check to see if it is related to blood pressure, kidney function, diet, or allergies. Your doctor can also determine whether your tinnitus is related to any medicine you are taking. To learn more about what is causing your tinnitus, your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist (oh-toe-lair-in-GAH-luh-jist), an ear, nose, and throat doctor. He or she will examine your ears and your hearing to try to find out why you have tinnitus. Another hearing professional, an audiologist Audiologist A person with a degree and/or certification in the areas of identification and measurement of hearing impairments and rehabilitation of those with hearing problems. (aw-dee-AH-luh-jist), can measure your hearing. If you need a hearing aid, an audiologist can fit you with one that meets your needs. How will hearing experts treat my tinnitus? Although there is no cure for tinnitus, scientists and doctors have discovered several treatments that may give you some relief. Not every treatment works for everyone, so you may need to try several to find the ones that help. Treatments can include * Hearing aids Hearing Aids Definition A hearing aid is a device that can amplify sound waves in order to help a deaf or hard-of-hearing person hear sounds more clearly. . Many people with tinnitus also have a hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid makes it easier for some people to hear the sounds they need to hear by making them louder. The better you hear other people talking or the music you like, the less you notice your tinnitus. * Maskers. Maskers are small electronic devices that use sound to make tinnitus less noticeable. Maskers do not make tinnitus go away, but they make the ringing or roaring seem softer. For some people, maskers hide their tinnitus so well that they can barely hear it. Some people sleep better when they use maskers. Listening to static at a low volume on the radio or using bedside maskers can help. These are devices you can put by your bed instead of behind your ear. They can help you ignore your tinnitus and fall asleep. * Medicine or drug therapy. Some medicines may ease tinnitus. If your doctor prescribes medicine to treat your tinnitus, he or she can tell you whether the medicine has any side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. . * Tinnitus retraining therapy Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a form of habituation therapy designed to help persons who suffer from tinnitus (ringing ears). TRT uses counselling to explain to the patient how a combination of tinnitus retraining and sound enrichment can first end their negative reaction to . This treatment uses a combination of counseling and maskers. Otolaryngologists and audiologists help you learn how to deal with your tinnitus better. You may also use maskers to make your tinnitus less noticeable. After a while, some people learn how to avoid thinking about their tinnitus. It takes time for this treatment to work, but it can be very helpful. * Counseling. People with tinnitus may become depressed. Talking with a counselor or people in tinnitus support groups may be helpful. * Relaxing. Learning how to relax is very helpful if the noise in your ears frustrates you. Stress makes tinnitus seem worse. By relaxing, you have a chance to rest and better deal with the sound. What can I do to help myself? Think about things that will help you cope. Many people find listening to music very helpful. Focusing on music might help you forget about your tinnitus for a while. It can also help mask the sound. Other people like to listen to recorded nature sounds, like ocean waves, the wind, or even crickets. Avoid anything that can make your tinnitus worse. This includes smoking, alcohol, and loud noise. If you are a construction worker, an airport worker, or a hunter, or if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at home or at work, wear ear plugs or special earmuffs Earmuffs are objects designed to cover a person's ears for protection. They consist of a thermoplastic or metal head-band, that fits over the top of the head, and a pad at each end, to cover the external ears. to protect your hearing and keep your tinnitus from getting worse. If it is hard for you to hear over your tinnitus, ask your friends and family to face you when they talk so you can see their faces. Seeing their expressions may help you understand them better. Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. Also, tell them they do not have to talk slowly, just more clearly. Where can I find more information? If you have any other questions, or if you need a large-print version of this fact sheet, call the NIDCD NIDCD National Institute on Deafness & other Communication Disorders Information Clearinghouse clearinghouse Institution established by firms engaged in similar activities to enable them to offset transactions with one another in order to limit payment settlements to net balances. . Here are several ways to contact us: Toll-free: (800) 241-1044 Toll-free TTY: (800) 241-1055 Address: 1 Communication Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892-3456 E-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov Internet: www.nidcd.nih.gov You can contact other groups for more information on tinnitus as well: American Tinnitus Association P.O. Box 5 Portland, OR 97207 Voice: (503) 248-9985 Toll-free: (800) 634-8978 E-mail: tinnitus@ata.org Internet: www.ata.org American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery One Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Voice: (703) 836-4444 TTY: (703) 519-1585 E-mail: webmaster@ent.org Internet: www.entnet.org American Academy of Audiology 8300 Greensboro Drive, Suite 750 McLean, VA 22102 Voice: (703) 790-8466 Toll-free: (800) AAA-2336 TTY: (703) 790-8466 Internet: www.audiology.org Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200 Bethesda, MD 20814 Voice: (301) 657-2248 TTY: (301) 657-2249 E-mail: national@shhh.org Internet: www.shhh.org American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 10801 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 Voice: (301) 897-3279 Toll-free: (800) 638-8255 TTY: (301) 897-0157 E-mail: actioncenter@asha.org Internet: www.asha.org February 2001 NIH "Not invented here." See digispeak. NIH - The United States National Institutes of Health. Pub. No. 00-4896 For more information, contact the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse. |
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