What Causes Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the name attributed to the perception of various sounds that have not been produced by external stimuli. While the name, tinnitus is a word that means “ringing” in Latin, the sounds a person suffering from it can hear are not limited to ringing, and can extend from sounds similar to those of frogs and crickets, to the sound of waves, to humming, hissing or buzzing, and at times can even take the form of musical accords. The causes of tinnitus can range from neurological to psychological, and a disease or condition that causes tinnitus is likely to give other symptoms as well.

One of the main causes of tinnitus is represented by damage to the auditory receptors, transmitters and nervous centers, or in other words, lesions of the auditory sensory cells located in the ear, the auditory nerve, or the nervous centers in the brain responsible for the processing of sound. Damage to these components of the auditory system can occur traumatically, after exposure to extremely powerful noises or ototoxic substances or as a consequence to pathological states, for instance Meniere’s disease. Amongst ototoxins we can count certain chemotherapy agents, antibiotics from the Aminoglycoside family, loop diuretics, aspirin, nicotine, carbon monoxide and mercury. Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear and causes tinnitus, along with progressive loss of hearing and dizziness. It is caused by an increase in the volume of endolymph, a fluid contained in the inner ear.

The existence of a blockage point for sound waves in the outer or middle ear also causes tinnitus. Such blocks can be the consequence of a massive ear wax accumulation in the external auditory duct, of secretions resulted from an ear infection, or of a collection of fluids in the middle ear.

Palatal muscle spasm frequently associated with multiple sclerosis causes tinnitus. The muscle contractions can be perceived visually upon observation of the palate and the tinnitus resulted this way is described as a succession of rapid clicking sounds (up to 200 clicks per minute). This type of palatal muscle spasm can also be associated with certain types of tumors and small vessel disease.

In many cases, head trauma causes tinnitus. Studies show that head trauma-induced tinnitus tends to be perceived as much louder than other types of tinnitus, and can also be accompanied by stronger dizziness. Head trauma patients have also notably had much more difficulty in leading a normal life with their newly acquired condition. An explanation for this could be given by the fact that in trauma patients, the onset of tinnitus was sudden and therefore, they had no time to develop coping mechanisms.

Thyroid problems have been debated as causes of tinnitus. While there are sources that indicate an increased Thyroid activity might cause tinnitus by increasing heart rate and therefore being responsible for a perceived pounding sound in the ear, other sources say that a diminished Thyroid functionality can also cause tinnitus. However, specialist opinions state that cases where tinnitus appears secondary to a thyroid dysfunction are relatively rare.

A Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been listed as a cause, or at least an aiding factor in the appearance of tinnitus. Studies show that patients with B12 deficiencies have been more prone to developing loud noise-associated tinnitus than patients with normal B12 levels who had experienced the same conditions, so while a Vitamin B12 deficiency will not automatically cause tinnitus, it will facilitate its appearance if the traumatic circumstances are met.

Psychological problems have been known to be associated with tinnitus, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in particular, but depression, anxiety and increased levels of stress susceptibility can also become causes of tinnitus. In turn, anxiety and depression can be consequences a person suffering from tinnitus might have to deal with.

Fybromialgia is a condition where the patient presents an increased sensitivity to stimuli, especially tactile ones, characterized by an increased perception of pain and a series of other physical and psychological symptoms, amongst which tinnitus can sometimes be found.

Hypertonia, consequently, is a condition which increases muscle tonicity, reduces the muscle stretching capabilities dramatically and is also known as one of the causes of tinnitus. The constant state of tension and hyper excitability in the muscles surrounding the ear can cause tinnitus.

The thoracic outlet syndrome is a disease that interests a nervous plexus that contains nervous branches from the neck, arms and upper chest. The mechanism of this disease is nervous compression, and, depending on where the compression on the nerves is situated, it can affect nervous branches that connect to the ear, becoming one of the causes of tinnitus and also potentially causing ear pain.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease which is becoming more and more common. Its transmission is realized through the bite of insects, specifically that of a few types of ticks. One of the many negative aspects of this disease relates to the auditory system, where it causes tinnitus and hyperacusis. What hyperacusis does is increase auditory sensitivity to such extent that in some severe cases even mild noises can be painful. Tinnitus can be perceived in this case as continual buzzing or ringing.

Presbycusis is the natural process of hearing degradation with age and is one of the most frequent causes of tinnitus. It is believed that aging-related tinnitus appears because of the degradation, in time of the hearing receptors, transmitters or nervous centers and is strongly interconnected with the loss of hearing. While in some cases, loss of hearing is a consequence of aging, in others, it might be, at least partially, a coping mechanism for tinnitus.

Regardless of the causes of tinnitus appearance, this relatively common condition can have serious psychological effects on patients that, in most cases are already suffering from illnesses, physical or psychological trauma and deficiencies, or are aging. Even though tinnitus treatments have been developed, and, dependant on the physical or psychological condition that causes tinnitus, it is in most cases, treatable, living with tinnitus can be draining, debilitating and extremely difficult.