Tinnitus

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the sound of ringing, roaring, buzzing, or clicking that occurs inside the head. The sounds:

may come and go.
may be continuous.
vary in pitch.
may occur in one or both ears.

Currently, more than 50 million people in the United States suffer from some degree of tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus may result from a variety of causes, including:

damage to the nerve endings in the inner ear
stiffening of bones in the middle ear
advancing age
exposure to loud noises
allergy
high or low blood pressure
tumor
diabetes
thyroid problems
head or neck injury
reaction to certain medications

Treatment for tinnitus:

Specific treatment for tinnitus will be determined by your physician based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Generally, there is no specific treatment for tinnitus. If a particular cause can be identified, treatment for the cause may reduce or eliminate tinnitus.

Suggestions for reducing the severity of tinnitus include:

avoid loud sounds
have blood pressure checked
decrease intake of salt, which impairs blood circulation
avoid stimulants such as coffee, colas, and tobacco
exercise daily to improve blood circulation
get adequate rest
learn to ignore the sounds of tinnitus as much as possible
practice concentration and relaxation exercises
hearing aid(s) may reduce the sounds of tinnitus
mask the sounds of tinnitus with other, low-level sounds such as a ticking clock or specially-purchased "white noise" products