Tinnitus

Causes of Tinnitus

The hair cells in the inner ear move with the pressure of sound waves. This movement triggers the cells to release an electrical signal, which travels through the auditory nerve and into your brain. Your brain interprets the signal as sound.

When the hair cells inside your inner ear are partially broken or bent, they spontaneously spark electrical impulses to the brain. Thus, tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom.

Most people report the onset of tinnitus just before or shortly after beginning to lose hearing.

Tinnitus can last for as long as half or the whole day, affecting one ear, the other, or both, and can occur inside or outside the head.

Outcome

• Affects concentration.
• Disrupts sleep.
• Leads to depression

The degree of tinnitus varies from minimal, with very few effects on people, to almost incapacitating levels, where people are unable to complete normal routines.

Causes of most low-pitch tinnitus

• cardiovascular disease,
• allergies,
• anemia
• some jaw disorders (where lower jawbone meets the scalp)
• diet,
• stress
• certain medications
• acoustic nerve neuroma