Tinnitus is a condition that makes an individual experience a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in their ears without any external source of the sound. The condition can be intermittent or constant and can occur in one or both ears. It can be a debilitating condition, affecting a person’s quality of life, causing difficulty in concentration, and causing anxiety or depression. Here, ENT doctors of a multispeciality hospital in South Kolkata discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of of it.
Causes of Tinnitus
There are several causes that include exposure to loud noise, ear infections, ageing, medication side effects, and earwax buildup. Other causes may include head or neck injuries, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
As per the ENT specialist doctors of a reputed hospital in South Kolkata, the most common symptom is a ringing sound in the ears, but some people may experience a buzzing, humming, or hissing sound. The sound may be constant or intermittent and may be more noticeable in quiet environments. In some cases, tinnitus may be accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness.
Diagnosis of Tinnitus
An ENT doctor can diagnose this by performing a physical examination and learning a person’s medical history. They may also order hearing or imaging tests to rule out underlying medical conditions that might cause tinnitus, says a doctor of a private hospital in South Kolkata.
Types of treatment of Tinnitus
There are several treatment options available that can help reduce the symptoms. Some of these treatments have been listed below by the ENT doctors of a nursing home in South Kolkata.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants, may be prescribed to help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.
- Sound therapy: Sound therapy involves listening to white noise, music, or other sounds to help mask the ringing or buzzing sound of tinnitus.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy: TRT is a form of therapy that uses sound therapy and counselling to help individuals habituate to the sound of tinnitus and reduce their awareness of it.
- Lifestyle changes: Your doctor might suggest some lifestyle changes, such as reducing exposure to loud noise, avoiding caffeine and nicotine, and reducing stress levels can also help reduce the symptoms of it.
There are many treatments available to help manage the symptoms. In case you are experiencing symptoms of tinnitus, it is important to consult an ENT doctor of a multispeciality hospital to diagnose the condition, find out the underlying cause and develop an appropriate plan of treatment.