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Health

Causes of ringing in the ears

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 19.11.2021
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Quite often people have  ringing in their ears. This pathology can proceed painlessly, but it entails psychological discomfort, stress, makes people nervous. In medicine, this phenomenon is defined as tinnitus. But such a disease does not exist. This is just one of the symptoms of another disease, which can be quite serious. Previously believed that this pathology is found only in the elderly. But today, obviously, this is far from the case. More and more young people, and even children, suffer from this symptom.

trusted-source[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Cause

Conditionally these are three groups: the consequence of trauma, disease, pathology of the organ of hearing.

Unexpected impact of sharp hearing, as well as permanent, prolonged exposure to loud noises, noises, vibrations, distortion of transmission of sound wave oscillation through the auditory system, insect and liquid ingress. Ringing in the ear can be due to the fact that there was formed a sulfur plug. It is dangerous to abuse drugs that excite the nervous system, alcohol, drugs, energy. Dangerous gentamicin, which has ototoxic effect, damaging various structures of the ear.

Chirping may be due to inflammation or swelling of the ear, resulting from recent illnesses. On the eustachian tube, the bacterial and viral microflora from the nasopharynx can spread to the ear. Dangerous trauma to the head, ear, face of the skull, concussion, age-related changes in the organ of hearing, disruption of nervous activity and mental regulation, structural and functional anomalies of the hearing organ. Sometimes the cause is malignant and benign neoplasms of the brain, neck. There are inflammation, swelling and neoplasm of the auditory nerve.

Often, ringing occurs with atherosclerosis, narrowing of the vascular lumen, impaired cerebral circulation, jamming, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, vertebral hernia.

  • Ringing in the ear after the explosion

After an explosion, it may be a long time to ring, since the blast wave acts as a powerful damaging factor, damaging the structures of the inner ear and the tympanic membrane. Necessary examination and appropriate therapy. In case of severe damage, surgical intervention is required.

  • Ringing in the ears after shooting

Because of shots, there may be noise in the ears. At the moment of shooting, a sharp sound develops, which damages the tympanic membrane, or causes its intense oscillations. They can persist for a long time. It is necessary to undergo examination, check the condition of the brain, ear drum ear. And only after this, you can prescribe the appropriate treatment.

  • Tinnitus after concussion

After a concussion, ringing in the ears may occur. Most often it occurs as a result of the damage to the various structures of the ear. The auditory nerve, bones, or tympanic membrane can be damaged. Often this is a consequence of the inflammatory process, spasm, hemorrhage, circulatory disturbance or concussion.

  • Ringing in the ears after loud music

Firstly, loud music is a strong vibrational wave, which is perceived by the vibrational structures of the inner ear - the auditory ossicles and the tympanic membrane. Too loud music can damage these structures, causing their rupture, incorrect vibration.

Secondly, the ear can adapt to high sound vibrations, and it will be difficult for him to adjust to normal perception mode. Some time, the oscillatory structures of the ear will fluctuate in the same keys, which corresponded to loud music, resulting in a ringing in the ears.

Usually these feelings pass on their own within 24 hours. If they do not pass a sufficiently long time, you need to see a doctor, examine and find out the cause of such a phenomenon. Often, you can get rid of ringing only by eliminating the cause of its occurrence.

  • Ringing in the ears after the concert

After the concert, there is often a noise in the ears due to the fact that there are loud and sharp sounds that translate the eardrum and other vibratory structures of the ear to a different tempo of sound. After a long exposure to the ear of loud sound, the auditory analyzers adapted to this frequency. Then it is difficult for the ear to change to another, normal regime.

The eardrum and internal auditory ossicles continue to vibrate under the same sound vibration that was present at the concert (since any sound is a sound wave, or a vibration that affects our ear). It is for this reason that there is often noise and ringing in the ear.

  • Tinnitus after sex

Due to excessive emotionality and excitability, lability of the nervous system, mental overstrain. Increases the sensitivity of nerves, including auditory. He is constantly irritated and imparts an impulse to the appropriate parts of the brain. This provides a response.

  • Tinnitus after alcohol

Alcohol has a toxic effect on the ear. May damage the auditory nerve, sound-absorbing components. Alcohol has a toning and stimulating effect on the central nervous system, so inflammation of the nerve is possible.

  • Ringing in the ears after ARVI

After ARI often enough noise, ringing and even pain in the ears. This is due to complications in the ear. The nasopharynx and pharynx during the illness are affected by an infectious and inflammatory process. This process can spread to the ear. This occurs through the Eustachian tube, which connects the inner ear and nasopharynx. If you have such feelings, you need to contact an otolaryngologist who will check and prescribe the necessary treatment.

  • Tinnitus after the flu

Quite often, after a person is cured of the flu, he begins ringing in his ears. This is due to the fact that the infection from the nasopharynx and the airways can penetrate into the ear. Such penetration leads to its inflammation and infection, ringing.

  • Ringing in the ears after a cold

After a cold, tinnitus often develops. This can be due to many reasons, so when these signs appear you need to see a doctor and get tested. By itself, noise in the ears does not arise, it can arise as a consequence of another disease, or complications. Often, noise in the ears appears as a result of the infection of the middle or inner ear.

When a cold develops an infectious process, mainly due to viruses or bacteria. The microflora of the nasopharynx and pharynx is also disturbed. All this leads to the development of an inflammatory process. The nasopharynx and ear connect the Eustachian tube, over which inflammation can spread and the infection can be transmitted. Once in the ear, the infection affects its various parts, causing spasm, irritation, which leads to the appearance of painful sensations, noise and ringing in the ears.

Often, in order to eliminate ringing in the ears, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease, after which the noise will pass independently as a secondary effect. Sometimes, special drugs may be needed to treat and eliminate inflammation and infection directly in the ear. But you need to remember that the ear can not be treated independently. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will carry out all the necessary studies, assess the condition of the ear and prescribe safe treatment. Complications are dangerous with the proximity of the tympanic membrane and the vestibular apparatus, which is an important part of the brain.

  • Ringing in the ears after concussion

Concussion can be accompanied by a violation of auditory perception, a feeling that something is ringing, moving in the ear. The cause is usually a pathological lesion of the auditory center, which coordinates the work of all components of the auditory system. It can also be associated with a violation of cerebral circulation, inflammation of the auditory nerve.

  • Tinnitus after training

Appears in overwork, excessive physical exertion. At the same time, blood pressure rises sharply.

  • Ringing in the ear after otitis

Otitis is a disease in which the middle ear is inflamed. The disease can be either unilateral or bilateral. The cause of the disease is the spread of the inflammatory process from neighboring areas to the ear, as well as infection in the middle ear. This is accompanied by swelling, flushing. The soup can be allocated from the ear. Usually it is painless, but gradually the inflammatory process increases, it can cover all large areas of the ear, resulting in pain, other unpleasant sensations. All this is accompanied by ringing and noise in the ears.

If there are discharge in the form of a purulent fluid with blood impurities, this may indicate damage to the tympanic membrane. In this case, the ringing amplifies, becomes permanent and painful for the patient, exhausts him, prevents him from sleeping at night. As a result, there is a headache, dizziness, migraines develop. In this case, urgent medical attention is required, the patient needs surgical intervention. Otitis is more affected by children, because they have an eustachian tube that connects the ear and nasopharynx much shorter. As a result, the infection from the nasopharynx penetrates into the ear and causes inflammation.

  • Ringing in the ears with genyantritis

With genyantritis, unpleasant sensations can be related to the penetration of the infection and the development of a purulent, inflammatory, or infectious process. Often on the background of sinusitis, otitis or tubo-otitis develops, fluid accumulates, which disrupts the normal operation of hair cells, and chime develops, and more.

  • Ringing in the ears with neurosis

Neurosis is often accompanied by a ringing, as it promotes the development of inflammatory processes in the nerves. The auditory nerve also inflames, which increases the susceptibility. Neurosis is accompanied by structural and functional disorders of the nerves, destruction of the reflex arc. If the changes are reversible, it is possible to conduct therapy and eliminate pathology. If the changes are irreversible, the ringing will continue to accompany the person for the rest of his life.

  • Ringing in the ears with VSD

Vegeto-vascular dystonia is accompanied by a violation of the vascular tone by frequent and sharp pressure drops, cerebral circulatory insufficiency. As a result, different organs suffer. Pathology is accompanied by dizziness, spasm of blood vessels, excessive sweating. There may be panic, fear, anxiety.

  • Tinnitus with menopause

At the person there are essential transformations. The hormonal background, the activity of the nervous system is changing. Against the background of all this, there is a decrease in sensitivity, a malfunctioning of certain organs and systems.

Often, information that comes from outside is not handled correctly. If the information is processed incorrectly, under the condition of reduced immunity, various inflammatory processes can develop. Ringing in the ears of the headphones

Headphones not only transmit and amplify the sound wave. One of the drawbacks of this device is additional noise and vibrations that arise during operation. Accordingly, hearing becomes less acute, a person does not recognize many sounds. Also, the earpiece is inserted directly into the auricle, so the path reduction that is required to propagate the sound wave develops. Ringing in the ears and head

Indicates a violation of cerebral circulation, high blood pressure or jumps in vascular tone. Also, this condition is considered quite natural in the case of infringement of nerves, blood vessels, and their blockage.

  • Ringing in the ears with osteochondrosis

In osteochondrosis, a person often rings in the ears. The cause is probably the infringement of the cervical nerve. Also there is a disturbance of blood circulation, blood flow worsens, hypoxia occurs. Then other similar feelings join, dizziness develops.

Often, such phenomena are accompanied by the appearance of irritability, nervousness. There are sharp mood swings, there is dizziness, which is especially amplified during the movements of the head. There is also a pain in the ears, temples, nape.

There may be pain and fatigue in the neck, which spreads to other parts of the spine. The numbness of the cervical region, ear, and temporal region can develop. Together with this, twilight vision worsens and ripples appear in the eyes. There is a decrease in memory, a person becomes inattentive, distracted.

If the cause of ringing in the ears becomes osteochondrosis, the patient is prescribed vascular and anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors and vitamins. Positively affects therapeutic exercises, breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation practices, as well as physiotherapy, massage, wraps, manual therapy.

  • Tinnitus at normal pressure

Ringing in the ears can occur at normal pressure. It can be associated with fluctuations in pressure, and may not have anything to do with it. Under normal pressure, there may be many other causes that cause noise in the ears. For example, not arterial, but intracranial pressure can be increased.

There may be a pinched nerve, a circulatory disorder, an inflammatory process in the inner ear, an allergic reaction or swelling. The reasons can be listed indefinitely, so the first thing that needs to be done when such symptoms appear is that they will consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination. Only after the doctor determines the cause of the noise in the ears and the underlying disease that provokes it can the necessary treatment be prescribed.

  • Tinnitus at high pressure

Increased pressure causes structural and functional changes in small blood vessels. Vessels of the brain, the vestibular apparatus, which is located in the inner ear, change especially strongly.

Also, high blood pressure is accompanied by a spasm of cerebral vessels, which affects the internal organs, including the ear, the tympanic membrane. Vessels lose elasticity, blood supply to tissues is disturbed. There is also hypoxia, which is accompanied by a lack of oxygen, an excessive amount of carbon dioxide, which has a toxic effect on the body. All this leads to dizziness, impaired coordination and a sense of balance, noise in the ears, ringing. The intracranial pressure can significantly increase, which increases the ringing.

Controlling the pressure can be done with pharmaceuticals that normalize blood circulation, eliminate vascular spasm. If necessary, prescribe drugs aimed at lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood.

  • Tinnitus at low pressure

Low blood pressure can be accompanied by pain, noise, buzzing, and other sensations in the ears. Often it occurs against a background of nausea, weakness, dizziness, fog before the eyes, vague silhouettes. General weakness and lethargy, apathy, drowsiness may develop.

All this is due to lack of oxygen, hypoxia develops. This affects the blood vessels, the brain.

  • Tinnitus after sleep

After a dream, there may be a noise in the ears due to reduced pressure, or insufficient activity of the auditory hairs that have not yet been activated after rest. Usually, for normal perception of the sound, auditory hairs meet that perceive the sound wave, process it in a certain way. With various pathologies, unusual functional states and developmental anomalies, with other diseases, uncontrolled, rapid oscillation of the auditory hairs may occur, which leads to a sensation of ringing and noise in the ears.

trusted-source[6]

Pathogenesis

At the heart of pathogenesis is the disruption of the normal functioning of the tympanic membrane and auditory structures of the inner ear. The tympanic membrane is located inside the ear and divides it into the inner and the middle. It is a sound-receiving and sound-transforming organ that perceives a sound vibrational wave and transfers it to subsequent structures. From the inside to the eardrum adjoin three auditory ossicles. The tympanic membrane transfers the vibrational wave to these structures.

From the bones, the wave is transmitted further - to the cochlea, which is the structure of the inner ear, filled with liquid. The movement of the fluid contributes to the fact that the hair cells begin to vibrate, which lining the cochlea from the inside. Here, the sound wave is transformed into nerve impulses, which are transmitted through the nerve fibers to the brain. There, the received signal is processed and transformed into an appropriate response.

If hair structures, or other elements of the inner ear are damaged, there are various hearing impairments, such as ringing in the ears, hearing loss, noise, hum. There may be diseases in which the hair cells are constantly moving. This leads to the fact that the sound signal constantly enters the brain, even when the person is in complete silence.

The ringing can also occur when the transfer of the sound pulse through the nerve pathways to the brain is impaired. For example, inflammation of the auditory nerve, its edema, neoplasm on the nerve can develop. Any of the structures of the ear sound processing system can be damaged, including a snail, auditory ossicles, a tympanic membrane. The cause of the ringing can be inflammation of the Eustachian tube, which occurs as a result of an infectious, inflammatory process, inflammation of the nearby facial and maxillary bones.

trusted-source[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

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