Tinnitus Specialist
Anil K. Gupta, MD
ENT located in Royal Oak, MI
According to the old wives’ tale, ringing in your ears means someone is talking about you. But tinnitus, the medical term for ringing in your ear, can be a bothersome symptom of what may be a deeper problem. Tinnitus affects about 15 to 20% of people. Anil K. Gupta, MD, at Gupta ENT Center in Royal Oak, Michigan, can diagnose the underlying condition causing tinnitus and offer suggestions for treatment. Use the online booking tool or call the office to schedule an appointment to learn more.
Tinnitus Q & A
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, swishing, clicking, or another type of noise that seems to originate in the ear. Tinnitus is not an illness itself but a symptom of other conditions, such as:
- Age-related hearing loss
- Ear infection
- Ear wax
- Loud noise exposure
- Ear trauma
- Meniere’s disease
- Acoustic neuroma
- Certain medications
- Circulatory system disorder
Although annoying, tinnitus isn’t typically a sign of a serious medical condition. While ringing in the ears can worsen with age, treatment can improve the condition by reducing or masking the noise to make it less noticeable.
What are the symptoms of tinnitus?
The main symptom of tinnitus is hearing sound in your ears, not due to an external source that no one around you can hear. The noise is often described as ringing, buzzing, clicking, or rushing. Sometimes the sound is so loud it makes it difficult to concentrate or hear people talking to you. Tinnitus may come and go, or you may experience the ear ringing all the time.
Hearing loss and dizziness may occur along with the tinnitus. Because tinnitus is often due to other health conditions that may require medical treatment, it should be evaluated by a doctor, especially if the tinnitus is only on one side, is sudden, or is associated with hearing loss.
What causes tinnitus?
Although the majority of cases of tinnitus are not caused by any acute medical problems, certain symptoms and signs need to be evaluated to determine whether or not a more serious medical condition is causing the symptoms.
How can tinnitus be prevented?
The best way to prevent some cases of tinnitus is to avoid damage to your hearing, such as loud noise exposure. For many other causes, there might not be a way to prevent the accompanying tinnitus symptoms.
Tinnitus may disappear on its own, depending on the cause. Hearing aids can be especially helpful if you have hearing problems as well as tinnitus.
If the ringing in your ears is bothersome, call or schedule an appointment with Gupta ENT Center for a comprehensive evaluation and to discuss possible treatment options.