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What Causes Ringing In Ears?
Question: I've had ringing in my ears sense January 2014. It is driving me crazy.
I've been told by 2 audiologists that I have a conductive hearing loss. I've been trying to get treatment through the VA, but it's taking too long. They finally made me an appointment with ENT, but that is about 1 1/2 months away. This sound has become unbearable. It seems to be getting louder. Don't know if it could have anything to do with it, but during my last Migraine the buzz seams to really have increased.
Any ideas on what could be causing this?
I've been told by 2 audiologists that I have a conductive hearing loss. I've been trying to get treatment through the VA, but it's taking too long. They finally made me an appointment with ENT, but that is about 1 1/2 months away. This sound has become unbearable. It seems to be getting louder. Don't know if it could have anything to do with it, but during my last Migraine the buzz seams to really have increased.
Any ideas on what could be causing this?
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The first thing that comes to my mind is that your headaches and tinnitus is likely to be drug induced.
2. These medications, however would not cause a conductive hearing loss. Here a PTA (Pure Tone Audiogram) should be done. If you have a hearing loss, amplification may help mask the tinnitus. You may also get your middle ear pressures checked (Impedance Audiometry or Tympanometry).
3. Tinnitus may increase after a headache or migraine, however the exact cause is unknown. If your Tinnitus increases on clenching the teeth, yo may require dental bite correction. Tinnitus may increase due to stress, sleep deprivation, fluctuations of blood pressure, low hemoglobin, low blood sugar levels, peri-menopausal symptoms and so on.
4. Tinnitus is usually treated by decreasing the conductive hearing loss, gingko biloba, multi-vitamins and anti-oxidants. Trans-tympanic steroids, HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Caroverine may also help.
5. Kindly let me know the results of your investigations. This will help in suggesting further treatment. Meanwhile take an anti-allergic decongestant and steam inhalation.
6. I must emphasize that in a vast majority of patients of tinnitus, the cause is never found. It is also harmless in 99% of cases. However there are further treatment options depending on the type of tinnitus to help reduce it's intensity.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The first thing that comes to my mind is that your headaches and tinnitus is likely to be drug induced.
2. These medications, however would not cause a conductive hearing loss. Here a PTA (Pure Tone Audiogram) should be done. If you have a hearing loss, amplification may help mask the tinnitus. You may also get your middle ear pressures checked (Impedance Audiometry or Tympanometry).
3. Tinnitus may increase after a headache or migraine, however the exact cause is unknown. If your Tinnitus increases on clenching the teeth, yo may require dental bite correction. Tinnitus may increase due to stress, sleep deprivation, fluctuations of blood pressure, low hemoglobin, low blood sugar levels, peri-menopausal symptoms and so on.
4. Tinnitus is usually treated by decreasing the conductive hearing loss, gingko biloba, multi-vitamins and anti-oxidants. Trans-tympanic steroids, HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Caroverine may also help.
5. Kindly let me know the results of your investigations. This will help in suggesting further treatment. Meanwhile take an anti-allergic decongestant and steam inhalation.
6. I must emphasize that in a vast majority of patients of tinnitus, the cause is never found. It is also harmless in 99% of cases. However there are further treatment options depending on the type of tinnitus to help reduce it's intensity.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Just how loud can this sound get? Sense last week (last migraine) the sound is so loud I hear it even when driving. It was horrible during the migraine because I usually go to a quiet room and close my eyes. There is nowhere quiet for me any more.
I did the clench teeth thing & it does cause a sound, but it seams to be a different pitch than I'm hearing all the time.
Do you know of any autoimmune disease or could MS or fibromyalgia cause the tinnitus or conductive hearing loss?
I've also had problems with my eyes over the past few years. I've stopped making any tears (restasis is helping) and also had optic neuritis a few years back.
I'm grasping at straws here, but one never knows what might trigger an answer for a doctor.
I did the clench teeth thing & it does cause a sound, but it seams to be a different pitch than I'm hearing all the time.
Do you know of any autoimmune disease or could MS or fibromyalgia cause the tinnitus or conductive hearing loss?
I've also had problems with my eyes over the past few years. I've stopped making any tears (restasis is helping) and also had optic neuritis a few years back.
I'm grasping at straws here, but one never knows what might trigger an answer for a doctor.
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Tinnitus is a subjective symptom. It is usually rated on a scale of 1 to 10. if you can hear it while driving, it had to be very loud. In a quiet room, even a mild tinnitus is disturbing. The conductive loss makes one more aware of tinnitus.
2. Even if clenching the teeth alters the pitch of the tinnitus, it is advisable to have a dental opinion.
3. Autoimmune diseases may worsen tinnitus, however, these and Ms, fibromyalgia would not cause a conductive loss. MS is unlikely to be missed on an MRI. It is possible that your tinnitus is multi-factorial. I would still recommend that you discuss with your physician about drug induced tinnitus and the treatment to reduce the conductive hearing loss.
4. Optic neuritis is seen in MS. Other autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's, Lupus and many others would produce systemic (throughout the body) symptoms and not remain restricted to the eye or lacrimal (tear) glands. You may go in for a full autoimmune work-up.
5. A good way to start would be by reducing the conductive hearing loss. If you can upload your PTA & Impedance AUdiogram, it will help.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Tinnitus is a subjective symptom. It is usually rated on a scale of 1 to 10. if you can hear it while driving, it had to be very loud. In a quiet room, even a mild tinnitus is disturbing. The conductive loss makes one more aware of tinnitus.
2. Even if clenching the teeth alters the pitch of the tinnitus, it is advisable to have a dental opinion.
3. Autoimmune diseases may worsen tinnitus, however, these and Ms, fibromyalgia would not cause a conductive loss. MS is unlikely to be missed on an MRI. It is possible that your tinnitus is multi-factorial. I would still recommend that you discuss with your physician about drug induced tinnitus and the treatment to reduce the conductive hearing loss.
4. Optic neuritis is seen in MS. Other autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's, Lupus and many others would produce systemic (throughout the body) symptoms and not remain restricted to the eye or lacrimal (tear) glands. You may go in for a full autoimmune work-up.
5. A good way to start would be by reducing the conductive hearing loss. If you can upload your PTA & Impedance AUdiogram, it will help.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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