What are tinnitus?
Tinnitus, also known as head noises, tinnitus or tinnitus, are very annoying sounds that are perceived inside the ears or head without any external source producing them. They are generally buzzing, ringing, or low or high-pitched noises that can be heard temporarily or chronically. They are accentuated when there is absolute silence in the environment.
What are the symptoms?
This discomfort is not always associated with hearing loss, although perceiving noises in the ear is very uncomfortable and can cause serious sleep disorders, daily discomfort, stress, anxiety or depression.
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom.
Causes of tinnitus or why it occurs
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of other ear pathologies, such as hypoacusis. Therefore, the causes that can trigger it are multiple and, sometimes, they are not known.
Among the most important causes are:
- Injuries to the auditory pathway.
- Bad postural habits that affect the temporomandibular and cervical areas.
- Stress.
Can it be prevented?
To prevent tinnitus, it is best to keep the ear clean and free of wax. On the other hand, it is important to avoid caffeine, smoking, alcohol and excessive salt consumption. It is also important to avoid noisy environments.
What is the treatment?
Sometimes tinnitus is solved by treating the problem that generates it. In some cases, treatment with medication can reduce the intensity of tinnitus and even make it disappear. However, in most cases there is no solution with medication or surgery, although the patient can be made to adapt to the noise with auditory retraining therapy. It is advisable to avoid silence.
When the cause is a muscular contracture or a bad postural habit, the patient is referred to a specialist in Physiotherapy. On the other hand, if the patient has suffered a decrease in hearing, the fitting of a hearing aid can make the tinnitus disappear or, if not, attenuate it.