What Is Tinnitus ?

Tinnitus Remedies

Simply, tinnitus is the perception of sounds and noises in the inner ear whose external source cannot be established. To understand this condition better, you need to know that tinnitus is not a disease; instead it is a disorder that points to something larger than the presence of the irritating sounds. Statistics show that close to 6% of general population suffer from tinnitus in its severe from; while close to 50% have what medics refer to as “mild” tinnitus.

Notably, there is a difference between tinnitus and auditory hallucinations, where the latter refers to the perceptions of sounds that are fairly organized, like hearing a person talking to the other. This condition is common with the old, and distinguishing the two is based on the simplicity of sounds heard.

Categories of Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be broadly categorized into two: the subjective and objective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus is one that can be heard by the examiner as well when he doing tests. This kind of tinnitus is very rare, and only a small percentage of people have this type. The subjective one is more prevalent, and means that only the sufferer can hear the strange sounds in the ear.

Diagnosing Tinnitus

Persons suffering from tinnitus are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible so that the correct diagnosis can be done and prescription issued. Usually an otologist or a neurotologist does the examination to ascertain the causes of tinnitus and prescribe treatment. When performing the test, specialized equipment known as the otoscope is usually used. First, the earwax is removed and the condition of the eardrum noted. Of interest is to know whether the eardrum is intact, moving or inflamed. The eyes and the TMJ joints of the jaw should also be checked, since defects in these areas are also likely to cause tinnitus.

For the mid-ear examination, the examiner should focus on the eardrum, that’s usually responsible for the perception of the sounds. Any movements should be noted as these are the indicators that some noise could actually be heard in the inner ear, which has no actual external sources.

Lab tests for Tinnitus

The first test that can be in the lab to diagnose tinnitus is the audiogram. This is a simple test where the examiner adjusts a sound so that the patient can indicate when it matches their tinnitus. It is normally used to establish the level of hearing loss suffered.

The other one is the ABR, which means auditory brainstem response. This process is more thorough than the previous one and can even detect subtle forms of tinnitus, however, has the major drawback of being very expensive. So, that is the overview of tinnitus, and the good thing is that tinnitus is actually controllable and can be cured altogether.