Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids
In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its proposal to
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that has no external source. Some of the more common sounds reported are ringing, humming, buzzing, and cricket-like. It can be constant or intermittent and is heard in one ear, both ears or in the head. Tinnitus can originate in the middle ear (behind the eardrum) or in the sensorineural auditory system.
THE MOST COMMON CAUSES ARE:
Many causes are unknown.
Tinnitus is usually accompanied by hearing loss, and sometimes accompanied by loudness hyperacusis (when moderately loud sounds are perceived as very loud). Some 50 million adults suffer from tinnitus (it can also affect children). For 12 million, the problem is severe enough that it impacts their everyday life. Because tinnitus can be a symptom of a more serious disorder, it is important to have an appropriate health evaluation, from an audiologist or physician.
The Impact of Tinnitus
Tinnitus affects people differently. The most common areas in which tinnitus has a direct influence are:
The Treatment of Tinnitus
For most tinnitus sufferers, there is no cure. There is no pill or surgery that has been shown to eliminate tinnitus in scientific studies that have been replicated and accepted by the healthcare community.
There are some important exceptions to this. Some forms of tinnitus, particularly middle-ear tinnitus, can be treated. Sometimes a medication can cause tinnitus, and stopping or changing medications can eliminate the tinnitus (check with whoever prescribed the medication).
There are two broad categories of treatments that help people adjust to their tinnitus.
Conclusion
If you or someone you know suffers from tinnitus, I urge you to contact a physician who specializes in the ear (an otologist or otolaryngologist) or an audiologist as soon as possible.
Richard Tyler, PhD – The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its proposal to
Ear Wax is a common occurrence for healthy ears. The presence of some
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that has no external source. Some of