Ringing the Ears: Causes and Effective Treatments

Tinnitus is a subjective disorder and so objective tests such as an audiometric test are incapable of measuring its severity. Ringing the ears is classified into different categories that ranges from slight to cataclysmic and is subjected to practical complexity. Auditory Brainstem Response is often preferred to be able to find the origin of tinnitus and to find out if it is due to vertigo or hear loss.

Ringing the ear or tinnitus may be due to various factors and are often classified as follows:

1. Neurological Disorders – multiple sclerosis and head injuries.

2. Ontological causes and loss of hearing – infection in the external ear, deposition of earwax, prolonged exposure to too much noise, middle ear effusion, hearing loss which is associated to aging and Meniere’s syndrome. There are certain ototoxic medications which may cause tinnitus as well, particularly when taken in high dosage, such as amino glycosides, aspirin, bleomycin, tetracycline, furosemide, cisplatin and some other medications.

3. Psychological problems – depression, stress, anxiety and tension.

4. Metabolic disorders – vitamin B12 deficiency and thyroid disorder.

All these factors may cause tinnitus, if not, may worsen the condition if not given the proper attention which is why it is important to consult a specialist when symptoms of ringing the ears or tinnitus are present.

When it comes to ringing the ears, precautionary measures should be taken as this may be a lifetime problem if not treated or remedied as soon as possible. Since the most common cause of tinnitus is due to too much exposure to very loud noises, it is advisable to stay clear of these noises and of places where loud noises come from. If this situation is unavoidable, make sure to use earplugs to protect your ears from the pressure generated by these noises. Also, if you are taking any medications, make sure to monitor it for any side effects. This is due to the fact that tinnitus can be a side effect of certain ototoxic medications, especially when these medications are taken in high dosage.

When it comes to treating ringing the ears or tinnitus, there are several options available depending on the root or cause of the problem. However, one treatment may not be able to cure different types of tinnitus and so you have to consult your doctor to know which among these treatments may apply to you.

1. Objective tinnitus – when it comes to objective ringing the ears or objective tinnitus, surgery using gamma rays might be required, especially in cases of glomus jugulare tumor. In cases of palatal tremor, Botulinum toxin might be the best treatment. For arterial anatomic variation, Propranolol treatment is often used and has been proven effective.

2. Subjective tinnitus – usually, the intensity of the external sound is being reduced by completely avoiding the noise, masking or by means of music therapy or by using a hearing aid to be able to facilitate the lost frequencies. Electrical treatment may also be used to cure certain cases of ringing the ear or tinnitus. Chemical therapy, on the other hand, is where stress is laid on cutting or eliminating alcohol, nicotine and caffeine consumption. It is supported by zinc supplementation, melatonin, sodium fluoride and herbal therapy as well.


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