Maybe we often hear, if our ears ring it is a sign that someone is talking to us. This is a myth. In fact, from a health point of view, ringing in the ear is also called tinnitus, when the ear experiences a ringing or sound in one or both ears. The sound that a person with tinnitus hears is not caused by external sounds, and other people usually cannot hear it (subjective tinnitus). But there is also tinnitus that can be heard by other people even though it is rarely found (Objective Tinnitus).
Cause
Tinnitus is generally caused when the small, fine hair cells in the inner ear (cochlea) are damaged or broken. Hair cells receive sound waves which are converted into electrical signals along the nerves from the ear to the brain (auditory nerve). The brain will interpret these signals as sound. Other causes of tinnitus include ear infection or blockage of the ear canal, the ear canal can become blocked by fluid buildup (ear infection), earwax, or other foreign objects, head or neck injury, Meniere's disease, eustachian tube dysfunction, changes in the ear bones, muscle spasms in the inner ear, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, acoustic neuroma or other head and neck tumors, blood vessel disorders, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or crooked or deformed blood vessels, other chronic conditions associated with tinnitus such as diabetes, thyroid problems, migraines, anemia, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Risk factor
People who are at high risk for tinnitus include,
Often hear portable / MP3 music too loud for a long time.
People who work in noisy environments, such as factory and construction workers, soldiers are also very at risk.
Age, as you get older the number of nerve fibers that function in your ears decreases.
Gender, men are more prone to tinnitus.
Often consume alcohol and smokers,
Certain health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and a history of arthritis.
Tinnitus symptoms
Characterized by the appearance of sounds such as hum, hiss, rumbles. The tinnitus sound can vary from a low voice to a high scream and can be heard in one or even both ears. Other symptoms felt by tinnitus sufferers are insomnia, fatigue, headaches, difficulty communicating, stress, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Even tinnitus can cause hearing loss and vertigo.
Diagnosis
Doctors will usually diagnose tinnitus based on symptoms. But to treat it, it needs further identification, including explaining to the doctor the type of tinnitus sound heard, the patient's medical history, and conducting general tests including;
Hearing examination (audiology).
Movement, which includes moving the eyes, clenching the jaw, or moving the neck, arms, and legs.
Imaging tests, such as CT / MRI
Laboratory tests.
Treatment
Tinnitus treatment depends on the cause. Some of the things that can be done are,
Clean earwax.
Treatment of blood vessels, blood vessel conditions requiring medication, surgery, or other treatments.
Hearing aid.
Therapy includes sound therapy by listening to other sounds to cover up tinnitus sounds (such as radio sounds or raindrops).
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Prevention
What we can do to prevent tinnitus is by using ear protection to help protect hearing, decreasing volume of the headphone, take care of heart health, exercise and eat regularly, keep blood vessels healthy, reduce consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
(Medical Affairs/NA)
Sumber Artikel:
Dinces, A Elizabeth. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-tinnitus. (March, 24 2021)
Dinces, A Elizabeth. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/etiology-and-diagnosis-of-tinnitus. (March, 24 2021).
Mayo Clinic (2021). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350162
Mayo clinic (2021). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156
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