Unilateral Tinnitus

Unilateral tinnitus – those who are suffering from tinnitus may experience hearing sounds in one or in both ears. Hearing the tinnitus sound in one hear means it is unilateral tinnitus and hearing it in both ears means it is bilateral tinnitus. Hearing the ringing sounds in one ear is the most common type of tinnitus and this is often due to an ear infection, auditory trauma or impacted ear wax. This form of tinnitus is often considered as subjective and often originates from the auditory pathways.

There are various reasons that can cause unilateral tinnitus and some of the most common factors include the following:

• Ear Infection – acute ear infection can cause mild but constant ear pain with some hearing difficulties. The infection is often due to an inflammation in the middle ear where fluid fails to drain. As your body produces more fluid in the infected area, you may experience hearing pulsating sounds and this unilateral tinnitus condition can be treated by consuming prescribed medications.
• Impacted Ear Wax – excessive amount of ear wax due to certain disorders, neglect or poor hygiene can also cause ringing sounds in the ear, thus resulting in unilateral tinnitus. If your tinnitus condition is due to impacted ear wax, it would be best to consult a specialist to have the excessive ear wax removed. Do not attempt to do the removal by yourself as this can aggravate your condition and this can also cause some serious, irreversible damage to your ear.
• Medications – there are certain medications that can also cause a person to suffer from unilateral tinnitus. Also, if you are suffering from an ear infection and you are prescribed with antibiotics, there is a huge chance for you to hear ringing noises in your ears as well. This is because antibiotics are ototoxic medications and it can trigger tinnitus attack, along with other medications like diuretics, analgesics and aminosides. If you were prescribed with antibiotics for ear infection and you experience having tinnitus during the course of the medication, it would be best to let your physician know about this in order to lower the dosage and get rid of the ringing noises.
• Auditory Trauma – if you experienced an ear impact, the small bones, cochlea and auditory nerves in your ear can be damaged. Because of this impact, the middle ear is unable to send the right data to the brain, thus causing the brain to send false signals to the damaged parts and these results to ringing or buzzing sounds inside the ear. You should also avoid being exposed to loud noises, as this can also damage your ears.

Diagnosis of unilateral tinnitus before it worsens is necessary to apply the right treatment before further damaging the ear or before the infection spreads. Make sure to consult your physician immediately once you start hearing ringing or buzzing sounds in one ear for proper diagnosis and treatment. This can also help you get rid of the discomfort immediately to prevent it from disrupting your regular activities.