Ringing and tinnitus, or tinnitus, is a subjective sensation of sound in the absence of objective sound stimuli. The hum is not an independent illness, but only indicates a disorder in the mechanism of sound perception.

Causes

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Causes of tinnitus

According to statistics, at least 20–30% of people sometimes hear hums and noises that do not actually exist. Hearing impairment occurs in equally in men and women from 3 to 80 years. However, more often such hearing damage occurs in people employed in relevant industries, where sound and vibration loads are the norm.

Tinnitus provokes decreased and loss of hearing, causes headaches, nausea, dizziness, and may be accompanied by discharge from the auricle. The volume of the hum is sometimes so great that the patient is unable to hear real sounds.

Factors leading to pathological changes in the functioning of the auditory organ, there are many, so diagnosing such a seemingly “obvious” disorder is in fact very difficult.

Damage to the outer ear:

• foreign body is a very common cause in pediatric patients;
• wax plug. (here's how to remove it at home ear plug and how to do this is described in this)

Middle ear lesions:

• exudative otitis media– swelling of the Eustachian tube makes it impossible normal outflow exudate – serous or purulent. The movement of exudate in the cavity is felt as noise and splashing of water in the ear. Accompanied by nasal congestion; and here are the drops purulent otitis worth applying. indicated in this
• injury, tumors and other damage eardrum– most often occur due to excessive sound load;
• otosclerosis– pathological bone growth in the middle ear. The reasons are unknown. Most often observed during pregnancy, menstruation, and breastfeeding.

Damage inner ear:

• Meniere's disease– an increase in the volume of fluid in the cavity of the inner ear. It is accompanied not only by tinnitus, but also by a noticeable loss of balance and dizziness;
• acoustic neuritis– swelling of the tissue provokes the appearance of chaotic signals that create non-existent noise;
• tumor of the auditory nerve;
• presbycusis– age-related changes in auditory cells;
• l abyrinthitis– inflammation of the inner ear usually appears after otitis media.

In the video there is a roar in the ears:

In most cases, the listed ailments are a consequence of inflammation of the middle and inner ear and are called complications after influenza or ARVI.

The condition of the ears is largely affected by medications with the so-called ototoxic effect. While taking them, noise appears regularly.

The list of them is quite extensive:

There are a number of systemic ailments that can cause tinnitus varying degrees intensity.

Here the diagnosis is even more difficult:

The appearance of noise can also be caused by reasons not related to damage or illness:

• fluid in the ear - of course, creates noise, is eliminated purely mechanically;
• stress – often has a constricting effect on blood vessels, which causes pressure drops and, accordingly, noise and hum;
• head injury - the hum can be associated both with disturbances in blood circulation and with improper functioning of brain cells;
• poisoning - toxic substances used in production, in addition to other symptoms, cause a strong buzzing in the ears.

Treatment

What drops can be used to cure ear otitis, and how to choose them correctly, is described in this

• If the hum is caused by an injury to the eardrum or is associated with age-related changes, nothing can be done. In these cases, the only method is hearing aid.

Drug therapy is complemented by physiotherapy methods. Gives an excellent effect pneumomassage, electrophonophoresis, electrical stimulation and other types of procedures.

Tinnitus is caused by mass various reasons– from simple water ingress to systemic diseases requiring long-term treatment. You can get rid of the hum only by correctly identifying the cause of the disease. Even if only a qualified specialist can tell you in detail what to use.

Ear noise, described by patients as a hum, is present in the clinical picture of many diseases. This symptom is considered extremely painful - it is especially difficult for patients to endure it in a quiet environment, since nothing distracts attention from the subjective sound. The hum is associated with pathological conditions such as sensorineural hearing loss and Meniere's disease. The diagnosis cannot be established only by the presence of tinnitus - to carry out a high-quality diagnostic search, it is necessary to evaluate all components clinical picture. However, it is worth finding out about what pathologies the patient may complain about buzzing in the ears.

Causes

Ear noise - nonspecific symptom. Despite the localization of sensations, it does not always indicate hearing impairment. In some cases, the otolaryngologist has to look for the cause of its appearance together with specialists in the field of orthopedics, neurology, and angiosurgery. What is tinnitus? All sounds that a person hears are usually generated by an acoustic source in environment. They are objective in nature and can be noticed by other people. Sometimes people distinguish sounds produced by their own body - for example, a rumbling in the stomach when wanting to eat or a click when tilting the body after eating. long stay in a motionless position.

However, there is a category of subjective sounds - they are audible only to the patient, although he can describe their characteristics in detail. This phenomenon is called “tinnitus”; its essence lies in the perception of sound in the absence of an external source.

Tinnitus is very intrusive. It is especially pronounced in the absence of additional acoustic stimuli, so the buzzing in the ears in silence brings significant discomfort to the patient’s life. However, not all patients who notice a subjective murmur immediately seek medical help, which can subsequently slow down the diagnostic search.

What causes the hum in the ear? The most probable reasons can be presented in the list:

1. Acoustic trauma.
2. Traumatic brain injury.
3. Intoxication.
4. Various types of otitis media.
5. Hearing loss of conductive, sensorineural and mixed types.
6. Arterial hypertension.
7. Cerebral atherosclerosis.
8. Acoustic neuroma.
9. Otosclerosis.
10. Presence of sulfur plugs.
11. Endolymphatic hydrops.
12. Meniere's disease.

Rumbling in the ear in silence occurs with frequent and prolonged use mobile phone, headphones.

Traumatic injuries, especially combined injuries (for example, acoustic and barometric) can cause a persistent, prolonged hum. After interviewing the patient, the fact of contact with external noise is often revealed (working as a DJ, participating in shooting without protective headphones, etc.). The noise appears after head injuries or falls from a height and can persist not only in the acute period, but also in the recovery period.

Otitis (especially medial and internal, or labyrinthitis) is often accompanied by a ringing sound in the ear. It is worth noting that with otitis media, “background noise” remains among the patient’s complaints until the perforation of the eardrum, and only in some cases bothers us even after the condition improves. The occurrence of noise is noted by patients suffering from cerebral atherosclerosis and hypertension(usually during high blood pressure). Various toxins (household, industrial), as well as medications (especially if listed as a side effect in the annotation) can provoke changes that explain the hum.

Wax plugs can long time remain unnoticed, especially if the patient does not have hearing loss. A hum-type noise appears only after liquid enters the ear. It disappears after the ear canal is cleared of sulfur masses. It is not always possible to understand what causes ear buzzing. If during the examination of the patient all diseases that can provoke this symptom were excluded, experts talk about idiopathic tinnitus. It should be understood that the cause is not always associated with somatic pathologies.

The hum may be a manifestation anxiety disorder, depression - especially if it is clearly noticeable only in silence and disappears, “blurred” during a conversation, against the background of loud music, rustling leaves and other acoustic stimuli external environment. The more attention the patient devotes to the problem of noise, the more distressing it becomes. unpleasant symptom– however, if you get distracted, the subjective sound disappears. Some patients describe periodic noises - with a careful history taking, it often turns out that their appearance was preceded by stressful situations. The hum can be associated with a prolonged violation of the daily routine, a reduction in sleep time, and stops on its own after a sufficiently long, high-quality rest.

A hum in the right ear or on the left side may appear when:

• Lermoyer's syndrome;
• peripheral tympanogenic labyrinthine syndrome.

Lermoyer's syndrome belongs to the Meniere-like syndromes. The etiology is unknown, most probable cause researchers believe it is a spasm of the vessels responsible for supplying blood to the structures of the inner ear. The noise appears suddenly and persists from several days to several weeks. Patients describe it as extremely intense - often the noise complaint is dominant among the rest.

The development of peripheral tympanogenic labyrinthine syndrome is associated with exposure to toxins when the patient has acute or chronic purulent inflammatory processes in the middle ear.

The murmur in tympanogenic labyrinthine syndrome disappears if the inflammation is eliminated.

“Background noise” in this pathology is a solvable problem. Timely complex treatment the underlying disease allows the patient to get rid of all manifestations.

Endolymphatic hydrops

Endolymphatic hydrops refers to an increase in pressure in the endolymphatic system. These include:

1. Cochlear passage.
2. vestibular sacs.
3. Endolymphatic duct.
4. Endolymphatic sac.
5. Membranous semicircular canals.

Endolymphatic hydrops cannot be distinguished as separate disease. A constant buzzing in the ears associated with it occurs with such pathologies as:

• traumatic damage to the labyrinth;
• chronic purulent otitis media;
• acute sensorineural hearing loss;
• vertebrobasilar insufficiency;
• otosclerosis.

It is worth noting that noise can occur with syphilitic lesions of the temporal bone.

Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease belongs to the pathologies of the inner ear and is rare - according to statistical studies, there are from 2 to 20 cases per 100,000 population. At the same time, the disease has a high socio-economic significance, since it usually begins at working age (from 30 to 50 years) and, with bilateral damage, can lead to severe impairments up to and including disability of the patient. The exact etiology of Meniere's disease is unknown. It has been established that provoking factors can be infectious diseases– in particular, ARVI, as well as neuro-emotional stress.

Various theories have been proposed, the study of which is still ongoing. Ear buzzing in Meniere's disease has the following features:

1. At first one-sided, it later becomes two-sided.
2. Intensifies before and during an attack of dizziness, can be considered as a “harbinger”.
3. IN initial stage appears periodically.

During the height of the disease, ringing in the ears becomes a constant symptom.

Endolymphatic hydrops is important in the pathogenesis of Meniere's disease. The intensity of the hum that the patient notes may vary, but the possibility of debilitating constant noise cannot be ruled out.

- enough common symptom, which can be a sign of a variety of diseases. In itself, it is not dangerous, but, nevertheless, you should consult a doctor - the noise may indicate increased blood pressure or illness nervous system, which cannot be ignored.

The organ of hearing is a rather complex formation, which consists of the outer, middle and inner ear, auditory nerve and auditory analyzers in the brain. Pathology may occur at each link in this chain, and one of its manifestations may be tinnitus.

The appearance of tinnitus in pathologies of the external ear is associated with a foreign body or, less commonly, an external one or a large papilloma in the area of ​​the external auditory canal. In this case, the noise will only be in one ear; its intensity may change when you move your head.

The middle ear is a more complex organ, very small in size, which is why any pathology of it affects the state of hearing.

Tinnitus due to middle ear pathology can be caused by:

• Otitis media
• Eustachite.
• Tumor of the middle ear.
• Foreign body in eustachian tube or middle ear (if the eardrum is damaged).
• Otosclerosis.
• Structural violations.

Inner ear is damaged extremely rarely, but its diseases most severely impair hearing. Tinnitus in this case is caused by the direct effect of the damaging factor on the auditory receptors. It could be internal otitis, sensorineural hearing loss, tumor processes in the inner ear, side effect drugs (ototoxic effect), senile hearing loss (presbycusis).

Damage to the auditory nerve and auditory analyzers in the brain is associated with tumor processes in nervous tissue, injuries to the face and head, neurotoxic substances, inflammatory phenomena. Systemic diseases such as arterial hypertension, diabetes, and others can also cause degenerative processes in auditory nerve and, as a result, hearing loss and tinnitus.

What symptoms require a doctor?

Any tinnitus requires finding out the cause and treatment from a specialist. This applies to both systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, and relatively harmless manipulations such as removing wax or a foreign body from the ear - all this should be done by specialists, and self-medication can be harmful to health. But there are conditions in which health care needed immediately.

In this case, along with tinnitus, the following symptoms occur:

1. One way noise and sharp pain in the ear (a foreign body with sharp edges that can damage the eardrum).
2. Tinnitus is accompanied by “floaters” before the eyes, headache, sharp deterioration state of health (suspicion of hypertensive crisis).
3. The patient hit his head or has any obvious signs head or face injuries.
4. Tinnitus is accompanied by confusion, double vision, memory impairment, and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose or ear (signs of traumatic brain injury).

IN the latter case the patient may not remember that he fell or hit himself, and may also have a biased assessment of his condition. That is why the task of the people nearby is to deliver the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible.

How can he be dangerous?

The noise itself is not dangerous for the patient; the risk is associated precisely with its causes. If they are not identified in a timely manner, there is a danger of serious illness. Chronic tinnitus can interfere with auditory perception, which has a detrimental effect on hearing music, and can be dangerous in situations where it is important to navigate the situation by ear. This can be dangerous for a driver or worker who is accustomed to detecting mechanical malfunctions by ear.

More information about tinnitus can be found in the video:

Strong and constant noise in the ear can disturb sleep, which again has a bad effect on attentiveness, composure and the ability to make quick decisions. If the cause of the noise is not treated, then this symptom can cause neuroses, and in severe cases– mental disorders in the patient.

But much more dangerous consequences have diseases themselves that cause tinnitus. A foreign body can injure the eardrum (external, middle and especially internal) - lead to, neuritis, poisoning and traumatic brain injuries are very severe consequences up to total loss ability to work. Hypertensive crisis and severe head injuries are life-threatening.

What examinations need to be completed?

Examinations to determine the cause of noise begin in the ENT office with the collection of complaints and anamnesis. The patient needs to remember exactly how he hears the noise - in one ear or both, inside the head, etc., under what circumstances it intensifies, under what circumstances it weakens, how long he has been hearing it. Very important associated symptoms– pain in the ear and head, discomfort, hearing impairment.

Examination of the ear can help determine the cause if it is related to damage to the outer ear. If it is a cerumen plug or a foreign body, then it can be eliminated as soon as the patient seeks medical help.

The examination will also evaluate the condition of the eardrum, which may indicate pathology of the middle ear.

In order to determine whether the disease has affected the state of hearing, a Weber test with a tuning fork and pure tone threshold audiometry are performed, which make it possible to accurately determine the patient’s hearing acuity.

Where to look for the cause of a symptom:

• The Weber test is performed very simply - a ringing tuning fork is placed on the patient's forehead or parietal region.It is very important that it touches the head, but does not put pressure on it. Healthy man at the same time, he hears a sound in the middle of the head, where the device is located, and the displacement of the sound indicates that the conduction of sounds is impaired. If the patient hears sound from the healthy ear, it means that there is damage to the inner ear. If the sound is heard from the side of the diseased ear, then the outer or middle ear is damaged, but the ability to perceive sounds is preserved.
• An audiogram is a more accurate method of identifying hearing impairment. The patient is required to wear headphones that produce sounds of varying pitches and volumes. If the patient hears them, he presses the button. Based on the results, a graph is drawn up that clearly shows in what ranges the patient has hearing problems. Many diseases give a very characteristic picture. For example, sensorineural hearing loss is a loss of perception of high tones, senile hearing loss is good audibility at high volumes and poor at low volumes.
• To determine possible injuries to the head and blood vessels, radiography, MRI, CT, and Dopplerography of cerebral vessels are used. These methods identify injuries, tumors, vascular abnormalities and are the most precise methods diagnosis of brain pathologies.
• Additionally, general and biochemical analysis blood, analysis of hormones and glucose. These indicators reflect general state organism, and also identify indirect signs inflammation, tumors, traumatic injury brain.

What to do, how to eliminate it?

Treatment for tinnitus depends entirely on what is causing it. If it can be completely eliminated, then this should be done if complete cure is impossible, then it is necessary to reduce the impact of the damaging factor. If the drug is the cause, it is discontinued and replaced with more safe analogue. System chronic diseases treat and stabilize the patient's condition.

If we are talking about occupational hazards(industrial noise, vibration, poisoning with toxic substances), then the patient should think about changing jobs, or, if necessary, retraining. If this process is started, there is a high risk of loss of ability to work and the development of deafness.

If the hearing loss and the resulting tinnitus are irreversible, then the patient is recommended to have a cochlear implant installed - this is a small device that replaces the damaged structures of the middle ear, which allows one to restore hearing. The ability to distinguish sounds will be somewhat limited, but the patient will be able to get rid of deafness.

Ringing in the ears, a phenomenon that occurs in only a quarter of the population, is not inherently a disease. This is more of a signal possible deviations human health. The hum may be temporary or permanent in nature.

The reason for the appearance of this kind of sensation is due to the fact that the individual hears the sound of his own blood circulation. The sounds can be of different types - clicks, tapping, sounds of friction and pulsation, constant muffled noise. All this leads to disruption normal life, lack good sleep, headaches and even hearing loss.

The buzzing in the ears and head can have stages of subsiding and exacerbation, depending on the time of day, the environment and other factors. This kind of phenomenon is especially evident in silence and at night. Serious consequences of such a deviation include mental problems, stress or depression.

Reasons for appearance

There are many reasons, the main one being high pressure. Abrupt change pressure can cause a decrease in the diameter of the ear vessels and the person will begin to hear the pulse and blood circulation. Sometimes the appearance of a hum is associated with head injuries, the entry of harmful microorganisms into the blood, diabetes, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, or malignant neoplasms. Other reasons include:

• Ear diseases – deformation of membranes, infections, suppuration.
• Excessive overload of the hearing organs with sound
• Human aging – disruption of the auditory nerve endings
• Wax deposits in the ear - lack of personal hygiene

Fighting the noise

For constant unpleasant manifestations of humming, massage is recommended at points above upper lip, temples, earlobes and cartilage. Massage should be carried out regularly several times a day with average duration about 1 minute. Such procedures will help you speed up the blood and get rid of the constant hum.

If the sensation of noise in the ears and buzzing in the head does not leave you for a long time, you need to consult a doctor and undergo appropriate diagnostics.

Diagnostics

There are quite a lot of reasons that cause such deviations and sensations, so to set correct diagnosis Consultation with several doctors is necessary. From the very beginning, visit a therapist, then, if necessary, an ENT specialist or a neurologist. When especially pronounced deviations– dizziness, heart pain, vomiting, an MRI is prescribed. To clarify hearing acuity, an audiogram is performed. A cardiologist can determine abnormalities in the functioning of the cardiovascular systems, which can also be caused by a hum. If the cause of strange sounds in the head are neoplasms, they can be identified by taking a general analysis blood. Additionally, pneumootoscopy and tympanometry may be prescribed.

Types of treatment

Some ear pathologies require drug treatment, drugs usually contain increased amount zinc, vitamins, B special cases — psychotropic substances. Psychotherapy is prescribed if the problems are not related to physical damage to the hearing organs and brain.

Modern medicine can relieve ringing in the ears with the help of special equipment. In this case, the ear is exposed to constant electromagnetic field, or a weak laser. Today, air massage treatment is becoming increasingly popular.

Traditional medicine does not always provide loyal treatment, which can only aggravate the situation and lead to serious consequences (hearing loss, mental disorders, cancer).

Preventive measures

To avoid exposing your hearing possible diseases, it is necessary to avoid overloading them (too loud music, headphones, noise from construction machinery). A calm environment, rest and a quiet environment will help you recover.

Regularly visit qualified professionals and undergo examinations, if necessary, follow all doctor's instructions. Don't neglect diets because general functions blood circulation is directly related to your diet.

Noise in the head and ears: forms, causes, how to get rid of and treat

Which ear is it ringing in? Probably, each of us has either asked this question ourselves or heard it from another person, driven by the idea of ​​predicting future events. The correct answer meant that the wishes of the owner of the mysterious ringing would be fulfilled. It happens that sounds coming from nowhere appear in the ear just like that. They are short-lived, but still not particularly pleasant.

Meanwhile, tinnitus may be a consequence various diseases, often, but not necessarily, affecting the hearing organs. , leading to disruption of the blood supply to the brain, damage to brain structures at the location of the brainstem and cerebellum, can lead to the occurrence of such unpleasant phenomenon, such as noise, ringing, hum, as well as other incomprehensible sensations in the organs enclosed in the cranium.

Ear suffering

The cause of tinnitus can be a variety of life situations: from temporary inconvenience caused by traveling on an aircraft to serious violations V vestibular apparatus and brain structures.

Can cause discomfort in the ear various kinds damage anatomical structure ear, development of the inflammatory process in various parts of the hearing organ, exposure to foreign bodies V ear canal. As a rule, in similar cases Only the ear suffers; other organs close to it remain indifferent to the events taking place. Thus, tinnitus from time to time or constantly can haunt a person due to the following circumstances:

In my head - like in an old radio

Quite often, the cause of tinnitus is a completely different disease, which, although it does not directly affect the organ of hearing, indirectly affects it:

Thus, noise in both ears is more typical for vascular pathology, noise in the left ear occurs for the same reasons as in the right, that is, where the lesion is, that’s where it bothers. In any case, if noise effects in the head are constantly present, continue for a long time, and are also accompanied by other symptoms (dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc.) - a trip to the doctor is inevitable. It should be remembered that trying to get rid of unwanted hum and ringing on your own does not always bring success.

How to treat depends on the origin of the noise

What to do and how to treat is an eternal question for any disorder in the body. Tinnitus is no exception, it distracts from many things, especially those that require concentration and attention, productivity decreases, vital activity leaves much to be desired, but you don’t always want to go to the doctor, especially if nothing hurts. Meanwhile, like the therapy of others pathological conditions, treatment should be primarily aimed at eradicating the cause that caused the disease, if this is, of course, possible.

Most simple tips people who feel such inconvenience from time to time and are firmly convinced that they know the cause of tinnitus:

1. Music lovers are advised to restrain their preferences, otherwise, after listening to their favorite music, it will continue to sound in their heads for some time against their will. If you do not follow such recommendations and do not take a break from your favorite rhythms, then in the near future you may be looking for a hearing aid;
2. People who suffer from flying and traveling on sea liners, but often go on business trips or cruises, are advised to switch to land modes of transport or change jobs. At sea and air sickness Sometimes they prescribe pills for tinnitus - Aeron, for example;
3. Workers who lose their hearing at work are offered to change their field of activity (easy to say, but difficult to do);
4. Patients prone to otitis, regular visitors to the ENT doctor, are instructed to protect their ears.

Basically, noise associated with the influence of unfavorable factors directly on the ear can be avoided. special treatment, if timely measures are taken to eliminate the cause. The exception is inflammatory processes, localized in the ear, which require the use of various medicines, as well as insects and sulfur plugs, which must be removed using special devices.