Constant ringing noise that from inside the body in one or both ears or in head.
Tinnitus is generally broken down into two types:
Subjective tinnitus
Very common and is defined as a sound that is audible only to the person with tinnitus.
Subjective tinnitus is a purely electrochemical phenomenon and cannot be heard by an outside observer no matter how hard they try.
Objective tinnitus
Far less common, is defined as a sound that arises from an “objective” source, such as mechanical defect or a specific sound source, and can be heard by an outside observer under favourable conditions.
The sounds from objective tinnitus occur somewhere within the body and reach the ears by conduction through various body tissues.
Objective tinnitus is usually caused by disorders affecting the blood vessels (vascular system) or muscles (muscular system).
In muscular tinnitus, the sound is often described as a “clicking” noise and is usually associated with myoclonus affecting muscles near – or in – the ear. Myoclonus is an involuntary spasm or jerking of a muscle or group of muscles caused by abnormal muscular contractions and relaxations.
National Organisation for Rare disorders
Progressive hearing loss
If one is asked to hum, they hear the sound loudest in their deaf ear, they have conductive progressive hearing (presbycusis) loss rather than tinnitus.
Alteration of blood flow causing increase sensitivity to hearing
Pulsatile tinnitus: the tinnitus sounds like a pulse.
It is usually due to a problem with the blood circulation (such as carotid stenosis, a narrowing of the carotid artery as it passes through the neck).
This type of tinnitus can sometimes be heard by other people (objective tinnitus), it beats in time with the pulse (synchronous) and/or heartbeat.
Sometimes one can develop a pulsatile tinnitus which is not in time with the pulse (non-synchronous) i.e. is palatal myoclonus, a condition in which the muscles of the palate go into spasm.
Atherosclerosis – (When blood arteries narrow and harden due to fatty deposits slowing blood flow)
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Tinnitus in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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