When you go to our clinic and complain about ringing or buzzing in your ears, you’ll primarily go through a case history discussion where you’ll be asked specific questions, mostly related to your past and current health conditions. Basically, you’ll be asked if you are diabetic, if you have kidney issues, if you’ve had chemo or radiation in the past, or if you are currently taking over-the-counter medications.
Ringing or buzzing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, is annoying and disturbing for individuals who suffer from it but it is usually not a health threatening condition. However, there are instances when the tinnitus is caused by different types of tumors and blood vessel issues. Said instances are very rare but audiologists need to rule this out that’s why it is very important that you describe your tinnitus as detailed as possible.
Common Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is brought about by lots of factors but the most common cause is noise exposure. Other causes of tinnitus are diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease and issues of the inner ear. Sometimes, a simple ear infection may even cause tinnitus. There are also certain kinds of medications that are known to trigger tinnitus such as pain relievers and arthritis or rheumatoid medications. Said medications not only put persons at risk for tinnitus but for hearing loss as well.
Some other things that are a little bit more rare but still considered to cause tinnitus are head trauma, otosclerosis (hardening of the middle ear bones), middle ear diseases, acoustic tumors, eustachian tube disorders and multiple sclerosis. Getting to the bottom of what’s causing your tinnitus is our goal.
If you are experiencing tinnitus or other hearing related concerns, feel free to email orovalley@hearintucson.wpengine.com.
