Who is at a high risk for developing tinnitus?Īnyone can develop tinnitus at any age, but there are certain groups that appear to be at a higher risk of developing the disorder. Hardening of the tiny bones in the middle ear, called otosclerosis (although this is rare.).Excessive wax, particularly if the wax touches the ear drum.Damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear.There are several conditions that cause tinnitus, the most common of which is hearing loss. Often these sounds are from the body’s circulatory or musculo-skeletal systems. In this version of the disorder, the head or ear noises are audible to others in addition to the patient. Objective tinnitus is rare, comprising less than 1 percent of the total tinnitus cases. With subjective tinnitus, the ringing or head noise is only heard by the patient- not to outsiders. In fact, more than 99 percent of all cases fall into this category. There are two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. If tinnitus is interfering with your ability to sleep, speak with your ENT. Sometimes, use of a sound machine at night may help. Therefore, when background sounds are minimal-such as when trying to sleep-the tinnitus may be more bothersome. Tinnitus may also be more troublesome at night because, during the day, external sounds such as traffic or background noise may “distract” the brain from the ringing. (If you wish to listen to these sounds, please ensure that your computer’s volume is at a safe level.) The American Tinnitus Association has some samples of the variety of sounds experienced by those with tinnitus on their website. It could sound like a low, constant roar, a high-pitched screech, static or a tea kettle whistle. One in five Americans has tinnitus to the extent that it interferes with everyday life. It may be a squeal or a low roar, and persistent tinnitus can last for more than six months. This means that the ringing isn’t coming from something in the environment, but rather from inside the ear. In short, tinnitus is a “ringing in the ears” or similar head noises without an external source. For millions of Americans, tinnitus has a devastating effect on the quality of their lives. However, there’s an extreme difference between the ringing of outside noises and the constant, annoying buzz or high-pitched squeal associated with tinnitus. There are times over the winter holidays when you expect to hear ringing: jingle bells on “Santa’s “reindeer, hand bell choirs preforming traditional carols, or the Salvation Army’s bell ringers.

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