Hearing High Pitch Sound: Tinnitus Explained
Millions of people suffer from hearing noises that only they can hear. The condition of incessant noise perception is called tinnitus. The noise originates internally, so a tinnitus sufferer hears the noise even if he covers his ears. Majority of people with this condition testify they are hearing high pitch sound. Tinnitus can be benign, but it can also be intrusive and can give rise to other problems like depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
How Tinnitus Occurs
Ringing in the ears or tinnitus is due to an abnormality in the auditory system. Usually it is caused by damage to the inner ears brought about by repeated exposure to loud noise. Since the beginning of industrialization, the world has become a noisier place. Technology somehow wrecked many ears.
What happens is that loud noise destroys the tiny cells in the cochlea called the hair cells. These cells transmit auditory signals to the auditory nerve, which in turn transmits the impulses to the brain. The brain processes the impulses, and that is how you hear.
When hair cells are damaged, they function in a funny way. They fire random signals. The brain picks such random signals as noise. According to scientists, this is how you hear the internal noises. The bad thing is that damage to hair cells is irreversible. No cure has been invented yet to correct this damage.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Connection
Many people with tinnitus have some form of hearing loss, and at the same time many people with hearing loss also have tinnitus. The connection between is easy to understand, considering both are caused by similar factors. Noise that destroys the hair cells may cause sensorineural hearing loss as well as tinnitus. However, researchers have pointed out a more complex generation of tinnitus, in which the neural auditory pathways are involved. Activation of certain neural networks, for instance, has been observed in studies. Brain imaging scans have also displayed overactive sites in the brain in people with tinnitus.
Scientists believe that when people suffer from hearing loss, the brain tries to compensate to the lack of auditory input. Some neurons are activated and the brain’s awareness to any available impulse is heightened. This is responsible for the perception of internal noise that is usually absent in normal individuals. The brain’s awareness is heightened when it receives less amount of auditory impulse. This explains why even people without hearing loss may hear such phantom noise under extremely quiet conditions.
Degrees of Tinnitus
Most people with tinnitus suffer from mild ringing only. Mild tinnitus usually does not need medical attention because it only becomes apparent under quiet conditions. It cannot be heard during daytime amid the environmental noise. Moderate tinnitus is more intrusive, with sufferers hearing high pitch sound at certain times of the day. Moderate ringing in the ears can be managed through masking. Severe tinnitus is the most intrusive and may be present even when your surrounding is noise-laden. Simple masking will not alleviate severe tinnitus in most cases.
What Tinnitus Sounds Like
The experience of having tinnitus varies from person to person. Generally it sounds like a high pitch noise or a light high frequency sound that seems to cut through your ear. Some people say that they seem to hear a hovering noise. While many hear a high pitched single tone, others hear multiple tones. There are also cases of tinnitus which are described to have no tonal properties (thumping or roaring noises inside the ears). There is no exact explanation why such differences occur.
Unilateral and Bilateral Tinnitus
Tinnitus patients either hear one or both ears ringing. If only one ear is ringing, it’s called unilateral tinnitus. If both ears are ringing, it’s called bilateral tinnitus. More people suffer from unilateral tinnitus, but bilateral tinnitus is not uncommon either. One-side ringing is commonly associated with hearing damage or noise-induced damage and hearing loss. Other causes are Meniere’s disease or acoustic neuroma. Bilateral tinnitus occurs in a number of patients with cardiovascular problems. Many cases involve tinnitus that is more pronounced in one ear.
Subjective and Objective Tinnitus
A huge proportion of tinnitus statistics involves cases of subjective tinnitus. This type of tinnitus is only heard by the patient himself. More than 90 percent of the people with tinnitus have this form of the condition. No instrument has been invented yet that can detect the presence of this tinnitus. Doctors only rely on the testimony of the patient during the assessment. The amount of masking needed may determine the degree of tinnitus though.
Objective tinnitus can be detected by someone else. A doctor using his stethoscope can detect the noises heard by the patient, although not all the time. Objective tinnitus is commonly due to abnormal blood circulation in the ears or near the ears brought about by cardiovascular problems and abnormal formation of blood vessel networks in or around the ears.
Idiopathic Tinnitus
Treatment for tinnitus involves determining the cause. However, about half the cases of tinnitus have been reported to exist alone without a causative disorder. Since tinnitus is classified as a symptom and not a disorder, then it’s only appropriate that a disorder is present when tinnitus is diagnosed. The absence of a disorder indicates idiopathy. Idiopathic tinnitus is treated through conventional methods like masking, cognitive behavioral therapy, and alternative therapies.
Ringing in the Ear Vitamin Therapy: Will It Work?
Tinnitus is a sensation of noise that exists internally. Usually it is considered as a symptom rather than a disease. The causes of tinnitus are hearing loss, otosclerosis, jaw misalignment, Meniere’s disease, ear infections, and blood circulation problems. However, a lot of cases of tinnitus apparently exist alone without an identifiable cause. There are many treatment options available, and ringing in the ear vitamin therapy is just one of the many.
The B Vitamins
Many people who have devoted their expertise in finding the right treatment for tinnitus believe that lack of B-complex vitamins lead to hearing problems, one of which is tinnitus. The B vitamins are a group of complex substances that have interrelated functions, primarily in keeping the proper metabolism of the human body. Perhaps the most significant function of the B-complex vitamins is to maintain proper functioning of the nervous system. They are also known to help the body release energy and relieve stress. It is believed that taking the B-complex vitamins may offer more benefits than taking a single type of B vitamin.
The B vitamins are water soluble and are not stored in your fat tissue. Hence, your body loses them on a daily basis as they are processed right away and the excess is removed by the body through the excretory pathways. However, much of our diet today is composed of processed foods, which have little B vitamins. Hence, our diets are deficient of these nutrients to some extent. According to experts, lack of such vitamins can lead to ailments like tinnitus. Vitamin B complex deficiency can result in hearing impairment, anemia, skin problems, vision problems, and nervousness. Studies also indicate that this deficiency may also result in ringing in the ear. Vitamin therapy consisting of B vitamins may correct this problem.
What research says?
Research indicates that people with tinnitus lack Vitamin B1 and B12. These two vitamins are important for the appropriate functioning of the human nervous system. However, the direct association between tinnitus and lack of these vitamins cannot be established yet. There are only few studies conducted so far, and these studies point to a possibility that Vitamin B-complex deficiency can cause auditory dysfunction.
Despite the lack of definitive research on this subject, vitamin remedies for tinnitus have been released. Nutrient supplementation for tinnitus has become a popular. People look for natural remedies because there is no appropriate treatment. The positive thing is that many people who went through this form of nutrient therapy have experienced alleviation of their tinnitus.
On the other hand, there are natural sources for Vitamin B-complex for those who do not prefer to get them in pill form. Meat, legumes, and wheat germ are good sources of Vitamin B1. Swiss cheese, tuna, eggs, milk, and ham are good sources of Vitamin B12.
Is there a dosage instruction?
Unfortunately, there is no available medical literature regarding Vitamin B-complex treatment for tinnitus. Doctors generally do not prescribe vitamin supplements to treat tinnitus. But you can go to your nutritionist to check for vitamin deficiencies first. It is not wise to get a bottle of Vitamin B-complex supplements if you are unsure you lack these vitamins. Only medical tests can indicate that you lack these vitamins. Tinnitus is just one symptom to look out for, and not all people with Vitamin B1 or B12 deficiency suffer from tinnitus. At the same time, not everyone with tinnitus lack these vitamins.
Ask your doctor if it is safe to take these vitamin supplements if you are also taking other medications. Ringing in the ear vitamin therapy may either interfere with or enhance other therapies. Well, the good thing is that the B-complex vitamins are not toxic at the right doses. Over-dosage can cause abdominal pains though. There is also a possibility that such supplements may interact with metformin, proton pump inhibitors, and other medications.
More on Nutrient Supplementation
Aside from Vitamin B-complex, there are other vitamins that may help ease tinnitus. Vitamin A, for instance, is said to keep the tissues in the ears fine. In so doing, it helps keep your hearing in good condition. Deficiency in this vitamin may lead to problems in the inner ears. Good sources of Vitamin A are green leafy vegetables, yellow vegetables, blackberries, blueberries, and oranges.
Another vitamin that is important for tinnitus sufferers is Vitamin E. One of the functions of this vitamin is to enhance the supply of oxygen to different parts of the body, including the ears. Good sources are vegetables, dried beans, whole grains, fish, and eggs.
Aside from ringing in the ear vitamin therapy, mineral supplementation is also important. Tinnitus is also associated with lack of magnesium and zinc. As a result, nutrient supplement formulas for tinnitus may contain these minerals. There are studies that show that certain dosages of zinc and magnesium can reduce perception of tinnitus. Then again, it’s important to see a nutritionist or a doctor to find out if you can safely take mineral or vitamin supplements.
How to Find the Right Menieres Disease Treatment
When it comes to the different kinds of diseases that can affect our ears, Meniere’s Disease is definitely one of the most incapacitating. It is actually an inner ear disorder that does not only affect our hearing but also our balance. What make this condition very devastating are the symptoms that it manifests. These are bouts of Meniere’s disease vertigo, hearing loss, severe headaches and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. At this point in time, there are various alleged causes for this condition however what really causes it is still a mystery.
In as much as experts are still trying to find the exact cause for this ear condition, they are also still trying to develop the right Menieres Disease treatment that would work for everyone who has this ear problem. What you can do to relieve it is to treat its symptoms. Below are some of the things that you can do to address its symptoms.
• There are medications that can actually lessen or minimize the vertigo attacks. They can be in the form of anti-vertigo, anti-anxiety and anti-nausea drugs.
• Depending on the severity of the loss of hearing, you can actually make use of hearing aids to help you hear well.
• Tinnitus has plenty of remedies that could be in a form of conventional or alternative treatment for tinnitus. Some of them are vitamin therapy, homeopathic therapy, tinnitus medications and sound treatment.
There are also several things that you can do to help yourself get rid of it. One is to live healthier by having the right diet, getting enough exercise and avoiding habits that can harm you like smoking and drinking alcohol.
The Different Cures for Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition that brings about an incessant noise in one or both ears. It is not exactly a disease but just a symptom of an underlying health problem. Some of the common causes of tinnitus are hearing loss, stress, hypertension, ear infection, head trauma and Meniere’s disease. When it comes to the cures for tinnitus, some of them are as follows:
1. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) – this treatment is a combination of noise masking and counseling. It uses devices that emit white or pink noise to mask the noise of tinnitus and counseling sessions to help understand and accept your condition better.
2. Herbal remedies – there are various herbs that are actually used to treat tinnitus and one of the most common is Gingko Biloba extract. Aside from that, castor oil, sunflower seeds, onion juice, spinach and sunflower seeds are also used as a tinnitus relief.
3. Vitamin therapy – those who have tinnitus practically lack some of the most important nutrients that keep the ears healthy. These nutrients are zinc, magnesium and vitamin B. Vitamin therapy aims to help you get the right amount of nutrients that you need to get rid of tinnitus.
4. Medications – when it comes to conventional tinnitus treatments, you may be able to find plenty of medications that may be recommended to you depending on the condition that causes your tinnitus. Lidocaine, antihistamines and anti depressants are just some of the medications that are commonly prescribed by a physician to relieve tinnitus.
There is just one thing that you must keep in mind once you start hearing the noise of tinnitus, and that is, when this happens you must immediately consult an expert in this field to identify its cause and for it to be given an early and the right intervention. Although these tinnitus remedies can help you make your tinnitus better, treating its cause is the only way to totally get rid of it.
Treating and Preventing Ear Disease
Ear disease come as infections or hearing disorders, and they are not uncommon as you might have thought. Almost everyone has had an ear infection, and millions suffer from hearing impairment and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Ear Infections
There are two common types of ear infections—otitis externa and otitis media. The first one is outer ear infection, usually involving the ear canal. The other one is infection of the middle ear.
Outer ear infection is usually due to left moisture in the ears during bathing or swimming. It is sometimes called swimmer’s ear because swimmers are usually the ones afflicted by this infection. You can also get this disease if you scratched your ears.
Otitis media or middle ear infection is usually a complaint of children. It occurs when fluid congests the middle ear space. It may be a result of colds or sinus infection that has affected the Eustachian tubes. Inflamed Eustachian tubes causes decreased pressure in the middle ear, and this leads to fluid buildup.
Ear infections can be treated through eardrops and antibiotics. Decongestants are given to people with middle ear infections to relieve congestion. Anti-inflammatory drugs may also help. However, you have to visit your doctor before trying any treatment.
Preventing of ear infections involves keeping your ears dry, avoiding the use of cotton-tipped swabs to clean the ears, avoiding overzealous cleaning of the ears, treating colds and sinus infections right away, and blowing your nose softly. You should also know the signs of ear infections, like earache, ear discharge, feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears, muffled hearing, and foul smelling ears.
Eardrum Perforation
A hole on your eardrum causes ear pain and conductive hearing loss. It happens when your eardrum ruptures due to middle ear fluid pressure as a result of otitis media or due to an injury brought about by poking your ears.
You should go to your doctor if you experience earache and muffled hearing. An ear examination will be ordered to see the condition of your ears.
Perforated eardrums can be treated through analgesics to relieve the pain. In many cases, nothing needs to be done as the injury heals on its own. Healing takes a few weeks, and hearing will improve as recovery continues. A minor surgery can be conducted if the affected eardrum does not heal by itself.
To avoid perforation of your eardrums, you should avoid inserting anything into your ears, treat ear infections promptly, and avoid impacts to the ears. Extremely loud noise can also cause the eardrums to rupture, so stay away from loud speakers and other sources of loud noise.
Meniere’s Disease
When you suffer from episodes of vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus or ringing ears, hearing loss, and feeling of fullness in the ears, you probably have Meniere’s disease. This disease has unknown cause, but it is associated with excess of fluid in the inner ears. Abnormally high fluid pressure disrupts normal functioning of the inner ears. Thus, hearing and balance are affected.
There is no definite treatment for Menieres disease, but there are medications and therapies that can relieve vertigo, which is the most disabling of all symptoms. Tinnitus and hearing loss that accompany the attack are temporary and bearable. All the symptoms recede after the attack. Low tinnitus may linger, but hearing improves and vertigo subsides. Patients generally feel better during the remission, but the next episode can occur anytime.
Meniere’s disease can be managed through diet modification. Since it’s due to increase of fluid in the inner ears, managing fluid balance in the body is important. Hence, avoiding salt and caffeine is necessary.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
The number of adults losing their hearing is increasing, and experts warn that this is most likely due to frequent exposure to loud noises. Loud noise destroys the hair cells in the cochlea, and this destruction cannot be repaired. Permanent damage results in irreversible sensorineural hearing loss. The usual early sign of sensorineural hearing loss is loss of sensation of high frequency noises. What follows is trouble understanding speech, as the hearing deteriorates. Severe hearing loss may ensue if the old habit of listening to loud sounds is not stopped.
Noise-induced hearing loss can be managed through hearing aids, which should be adjusted to work according to the degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids should also be adjusted to amplify only the frequencies that are no longer heard properly.
NIHL can be prevented by, of course, staying away from noisy places. Wearing of earplugs is crucial for people who work at noisy environments. At home, you must turn your television, DVD player, and music player at moderate volumes.
Ringing in the Ears
This is a rather strange condition, which is not a disease exactly, but one that can cause other conditions, like insomnia and depression. Medically, it is known as tinnitus, and it is not classified as an ear disease. It is often described as ringing in the ears because many people with this problem complain they can hear ringing noise inside their ears.
The cause of ringing in the ears should be identified to determine the right treatment. However, tinnitus may often exist on its own without apparent culprit. In this case, treatment is targeted to managing the perception of noise. Treatments available are masking, counseling, and relaxation therapy. Medications are not prescribed unless you are suffering from anxiety or sleeplessness. Then again, long term use of medications is not recommended.
Tinnitus can be avoided by steering clear of loud noises, wearing earmuffs when necessary, and managing stress properly.
