Tinnitus is not a disease in itself; it is rather a symptom. In medical terms, tinnitus is a persistent noise, like a ringing or a purring noise. This noise does not come from an external source; therefore, its existence causes discomfort to the sufferer, as they cannot explain it.
Causes of Tinnitus
The causes of tinnitus are varied; as I mentioned earlier, this is a symptom. Ear damage and the use of medication are associated with the appearance of this persistent sound.
Ear Damage
The ear consists of three main parts: the outer, middle, and inner. The outer part is the auricle and the ear canal that leads to the eardrum. Beyond the eardrum is the box-shaped middle ear. Then, further inside, is the inner ear; here are the connections to the nervous system that carry information to the brain.
If the middle or inner ear is damaged, for any reason, the ear canal is damaged. This can lead to the appearance of tinnitus. These conditions are divided into those that affect the conduction of sound waves, such as a disorder of the ossicles, or those that affect neuronal interpretation in the brain.
The sound can also be caused by the pressure of tumor cells against the acoustic nerve.
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Long-term exposure to intense noise
People who work with noisy machinery or in environments with high decibels for much of the day are likely to hear this hissing sound outside of work hours. For example, hydraulic hammer operators.
Also, damage can occur from listening to loud music on headphones.
Other causes include:
– Some medications
– Temporomandibular joint disorders.
