Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a very common problem. An estimated 50 million adults in the US are affected by tinnitus. Although it is most commonly experienced as a ringing in the ears, it may also sound like a buzzing, whistling, or clicking noise. It can occur in one or both ears and it can severely impact your quality of life.

At ENT & Allergy Center of Austin, we help patients with tinnitus all the time.

Like vertigo and dizziness, tinnitus is not a medical condition itself but a symptom that can be caused by a wide range of illnesses or injuries.

Most often, it is related to noise-induced hearing loss in which extended or cumulative exposure to loud sound damages tiny hairs of the cochlea within the inner ear.

The exact mechanism behind tinnitus is unclear. The loss of the ability to hear certain sound frequencies is believed to trigger the brain to supply those particular frequencies. Getting your hearing tested is a good first step for anyone with tinnitus.

Additional causes of tinnitus include sinus pressure, Meniere’s disease, middle ear obstruction, and trauma to the head or neck. Sometimes, if the noise being heard in the ear sounds like your own pulse, it could indicate a blood vessel abnormality.

Often, tinnitus treatment is focused on managing a patient’s symptoms. A wide range of medications are used to reduce the severity of tinnitus. For example, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs have helped some patients. Steroids in the middle ear have helped others. Hearing aids and sound-masking may also provide relief.