Tinnitus is described as a ringing in the ear. However, some people have described experiencing buzzing, roaring, whooshing or other noises instead.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that about 10% of the U.S. adult population has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes within the past year. While the cause cannot always be identified, several conditions are known to be common causes of tinnitus.
Conditions That Trigger Tinnitus Symptoms 
While this list is not exhaustive, in many people tinnitus is caused by one of the following:
- Hearing loss
- Ear infection or blockage
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Head or neck trauma
- Certain medications
- Muscle spasms in the inner ear
- Otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the ear)
- Ménière’s disease
- Acoustic neuroma or other head/neck tumors
- Blood vessel disorders
Who Can Experience Tinnitus?
Anyone can experience tinnitus. In addition to people with the conditions listed above, there are several risk factors that make tinnitus more likely. They include:
- Exposure to loud noise
- Older age
- Using tobacco and alcohol
- Having conditions that affect your vascular system, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
Complications From Tinnitus
Some people who have tinnitus experience symptoms only briefly and are not terribly affected. However, for others with persistent or severe symptoms, tinnitus can significantly impact their quality of life. Tinnitus may cause:
- An increase in anxiety and depression
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Trouble concentrating
- Problems at work or school
- Difficulty engaging in social activities like meeting friends at Big City Coffee & Café
Treatment and Management Options
If tinnitus is interfering with your wellbeing, it’s important to make an appointment with a medical professional. Sometimes finding the cause of your tinnitus and treating that will resolve your symptoms. However, in cases where a cause cannot be found or your tinnitus is not affected by treating the cause, other management options exist to reduce your symptoms. These can include:
- Hearing aids
- Noise suppression using white noise or noise masking devices
- Tinnitus retraining therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Stress reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
- Medications to reduce depression and/or anxiety
For additional information or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, contact Southwest Idaho ENT today.