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Definition:
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease, of a fault in the
hearing system. In the absence of an established cure,
many individuals are not only challenged with needing to
adapt to the sensation of constant sound in the ears or
head, but also must adjust to an array of negative
consequences that the Tinnitus can create.
These
consequences can manifest emotionally, cognitively,
occupationally, socially and physically. High levels of
distress can be experienced in all of these dimensions
and contribute to an exacerbation of symptoms and the
establishment of a vicious cycle.
Tinnitus
therefore is a neurological condition (involves the
brain), an audiological condition (involves the ear) and
a condition with a strong psychological component
(involves the emotions).
Three Types of Tinnitus:
Subjective: Only the patient can hear and is the
most common
Objective: Can be heard with stethoscope at site
of tinnitus
Pulsatile: Tinnitus
is synchronistic with heartbeat
Causes of Tinnitus:
The
exact cause of tinnitus is unknown with the exception of
noise exposure (occupational noise, explosions for
example)
Other
causes could include: neck and head injury, Meniere’s,
TMJ, noise-induced hearing loss, presbycusis, acoustic
neuromas,
Prevalence of Tinnitus:
Tinnitus increases with age (65-70) and is more common
amongst males with noise induced hearing loss
Up to
90% of tinnitus has associated hearing loss
May
be unilateral (one ear) or bilateral (both)
Perception of sound can be heard ‘in’ the head or in the
ears |
