- Diseases that tinnitus is associated with.
Brief description of associated diseases
Drugs and medications that can cause tinnitus.
TMJ and Dental disorders
What can make Tinnitus worse
The exact physiological cause or causes of tinnitus are not known. There are, however, several likely sources, all of which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus.
Noise-induced hearing loss - Exposure to loud noises can damage and even destroy hair cells, called cilia, in the inner ear. Once damaged, these hair cells cannot be renewed or replaced. Millions of Americans have hearing loss due to noise exposure, and up to 90 percent of all tinnitus patients have some level of noise-induced hearing loss.
Wax build-up in the ear canal - The amount of wax ears produce varies by individual. Sometimes, people produce enough wax that their hearing can be compromised or their tinnitus can seem louder. If you produce a lot of earwax, speak to your physician about having excess wax removed manually-not with a cotton swab, but by an otolaryngologist (also called an ear, nose, and throat doctor).
Certain medications - Some medications are ototoxic-that is, the medications are toxic to the ear. Other medications will produce tinnitus as a side effect without damaging the inner ear. Effects, which can depend on the dosage of the medication, can be temporary or permanent. Before taking any medication, make sure that your prescribing physician is aware of your tinnitus, and discuss alternative medications that may be available.
Ear or sinus infections - Many people, including children, experience tinnitus along with an ear or sinus infection. Generally, the tinnitus will lessen and gradually go away once the infection is healed.
Jaw misalignment - Some people have misaligned jaw joints or jaw muscles, which can not only induce tinnitus, but also affect cranial muscles and nerves and shock absorbers in the jaw joint. Many dentists specialize in this temporomandibular jaw misalignment and can provide assistance with treatment.
Cardiovascular disease - Approximately 3 percent of tinnitus patients experience pulsatile tinnitus; people with pulsatile tinnitus typically hear a rhythmic pulsing, often in time with a heartbeat. Pulsatile tinnitus can indicate the presence of a vascular condition-where the blood flow through veins and arteries is compromised-like a heart murmur, hypertension, or hardening of the arteries.
Certain types of tumors - Very rarely, people have a benign and slow-growing tumor on their auditory, vestibular, or facial nerves. These tumors can cause tinnitus, deafness, facial paralysis, and loss of balance.
Head and neck trauma - Physical trauma to the head and neck can induce tinnitus. Other symptoms include headaches, vertigo, and memory loss.
Other possible causes of tinnitus are listed below.
Mιniθre's disease, which results from an increased pressure in the inner ear and also causes deafness and vertigo
otosclerosis, a condition in which the small bones of the middle ear become immobile
ear infections and inflammation
wax in the ear
otitis media with effusion (an ear infection often known as 'glue ear' in children)
acoustic neuroma, a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of the auditory nerve, which carries signals from the inner ear to the brain
high doses of drugs including aspirin, quinine and some antibiotics
anaemia
head injury
low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
disorders of the heart and blood vessels, particularly in the head
high blood pressure
an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)
problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - the joint between the jaws, which can also lead to pain in the head or face
an abnormality of the Eustachian tube, that can result in a wooshing sound