Tinnitus: that Unsettling Ringing Noise in the Ears Has Too Many Causes

Not a few people it seems are affected by tinnitus, an unsettling condition which involves the ears. I happen to know several people who suffer from tinnitus and my brother is one of them. This troubling condition is marked by a faint ringing noise in the ears. Loss of hearing may be attendant in some cases of tinnitus, while it may be absent in other cases.

Some of the people I talked with described their particular conditions and, comparing these with my brother's own case, I realize that noises in the ears resulting from tinnitus may likewise differ from person to person. For example, some compare the noise in their ears to the buzzing of bees; others to a continuous ringing of a bell. In my brother's case, he told me that he experiences vibrating sounds.

Tinnitus may occur as a result of any of the numerous disorders in the three parts of the ear - the outer, middle, and inner ear; or it may be caused by certain disorders in the auditory nerve and brain. Other possible causes of tinnitus include inflammation or chronic irritation of the middle ear, inflammation of the auditory canal, nervousness, low blood pressure, and high blood pressure. It is the latter condition, according to my brother's doctor, that has been causing the pesky ringing noise in his ears.

Doctors point to several other conditions as possible causes of tinnitus, and these include a breach in the eardrum, an infection in the middle ear, and an obstruction in the outer ear (wax buildup and fluid accumulation are two perfect examples of this). In a few cases, otosclerosis - the growth of spongy bone in the inner ear - is the cause of the problem. This particular condition, if not medically corrected, may lead to a progressively worsening case of hearing loss.

The causes are simply too many for all to be mentioned here. But picking out the other most possible ones, we include some of the known disorders or diseases, such as an attack of flu, tumors (abnormal benign or malignant new growths of tissue), diabetes, Meniere's disease (a disorder of the membranous structures of the inner ear), anemia (deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood), and presbycusis (the diminishing of hearing acuteness as a result of degenerative changes in the ears, occurring especially in old age).

Still in other cases, the side effects of certain drugs, such as quinine (used to reduce fever or to prevent or control malaria) and the salicylates (used as analgesic), may also cause tinnitus.

Some people with tinnitus experience ringing noise in their ears which almost entirely blocks out other sounds. Many others though, like my brother, can hear perfectly well. Doctors may prescribe certain medications, or recommend the use of some special types of medical instruments, to relieve the problems caused by tinnitus. As a rule, however, any treatment should be directed toward the specific cause of the condition if it has to have permanent value.