“Why do I hear a ringing noise in my ears?” “How can I make that noise go away?”
If you find yourself making these kinds of statements, you may be dealing with tinnitus, a common hearing problem where you hear noises or perceive a sound that others don’t hear. You’re not by yourself. Millions of people have this disorder.
Ringing, buzzing, pulsing, or whistling are the sounds that most people describe.
Ringing in the ears may seem harmless, depending on its intensity. But tinnitus shouldn’t always be neglected. Something more serious may be the underlying cause of these sounds.
You should take the following 6 symptoms seriously.
1. Your Quality of Life is Being Affected by The Ringing in Your Ears
Some research indicates that 26% of tinnitus sufferers experience that ringing on a nearly constant basis.
This annoying, ever-present noise can result in all kinds of relationship troubles, anxiety, insomnia, and even depression.
It can be a battle between the tinnitus noise and something as basic as attempting to hear your friend give you a recipe over the phone. You might snap at your grandson, who simply asks a question, because the ringing stresses you out.
A vicious cycle can be the result of this constant ringing. As your stress level rises, the ringing gets louder. And you get more stressed the louder the noise is and on and on.
If your tinnitus is contributing to these types of life struggles, you shouldn’t neglect it. It’s there, and your life is being affected. The noise can be decreased or eliminated with available treatment options.
2. The Noise in Your Ears Manifests After You Switch Medications
Doctors may try several different medications to treat the same condition whether you have cancer or chronic pain. You may ask for an alternative if you start to experience significant side effects. If your tinnitus began or got significantly worse after you started a new drug, check that list of side effects and talk to your doctor.
Some common medications may cause tinnitus. These include some kinds of:
- Antibiotics
- Opioids (Pain Killers)
- Chemo
- Loop Diuretics
- Over-the-counter painkillers (Tylenol, Aleve, Advil, and even aspirin) when taken several times a day for an extended period of time.
3. Blurred Vision, Seizures, And Headache Come With Tinnitus Noises
This often means that your tinnitus symptoms are being caused by high blood pressure. The blood circulation in your inner ear is compromised when you suffer from hypertension. Your general health is also at risk with high blood pressure. Over time, it could cause or worsen age-related hearing loss.
4. You Only Hear it After You Leave a Gym, Concert, or Work
If you leave a noisy place such as a factory, bar, concert, or fitness class, and you start to hear tinnitus noises, you were probably exposed to unsafe noise levels and that’s more than likely the cause of these noises. It becomes increasingly likely that these noises will become permanent the more often you ignore them and skip using ear protection. And hearing loss will probably accompany it.
If you enjoy a loud night out, take precautions such as:
- Wearing earplugs
- At least once an hour, step outside or into the restroom to give your ears a break
- Standing a little further away from loud speakers
Adhere to the rules pertaining to earmuffs and earplugs if you work in a noisy setting. They’re made to protect you, but they only work if you use protective gear correctly.
5. You Also Have Facial Paralysis
Whether you have ringing in your ears or not, you should never dismiss facial paralysis. But when the tinnitus symptoms are come along with paralysis, headaches, and nausea, this may be a sign of a slow-growing benign brain tumor called an acoustic neuroma.
6. Fluctuating Hearing Loss is Accompanying Tinnitus
Are you experiencing hearing loss that comes and goes? Do you feel dizzy off and on? When accompanied by tinnitus, this means you need to be tested for Meniere’s disease. This causes a fluid imbalance in your ears. If left untreated, it often gets worse and might increase your risks of significant falls caused by lack of balance.
Hearing loss is often signaled by tinnitus. So you should get your hearing tested if you’re experiencing it. Contact us to make an appointment.