Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is the medical term for the subjective perception of sound in the ears without an external stimulus. Tinnitus is a condition that can occur in people of all adult age groups and in both sexes. In fact, tinnitus itself is a symptom, which means that it is not a disease, but its presence may lead the doctor to diagnose an underlying medical condition. With the fast pace of modern life and the increasing accumulation of stress, the number of patients seeking medical attention for this problem has also increased. It should also be noted that since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of patients complaining of tinnitus has risen. Furthermore, this symptom is increasingly being observed in younger individuals, unlike in the past when tinnitus was primarily associated with older adults.
Regarding the causes that lead to the appearance of this symptom, it is not possible to speak with certainty because in most cases the specific cause of the appearance of this symptom cannot be discovered. Tinnitus as a symptom is subjective and is felt only by the patient, so the doctor does not have a diagnostic method with which he could prove or disprove the fact of the existence of this symptom, but of course this should not discourage either the doctor or the patient. One of the possible causes of tinnitus is impaired circulation, which may occur as part of various medical conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, cervical spine disorders, thyroid dysfunction, and others. Other possible causes that should not be overlooked include the patient’s age, inflammatory processes, tumours, acoustic trauma, diseases of the central nervous system, and other conditions. Given that tinnitus may be a symptom of numerous health disorders, the patient should be carefully examined to avoid an incorrect diagnosis and, consequently, inappropriate treatment.
Seeking medical attention promptly allows for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In everyday clinical practice, one of the most commonly presumed causes of this symptom is circulatory impairment, which leads to reduced vascularization of tissues and organs, resulting in tissue damage, including damage to the inner ear and the auditory nerve, thereby causing tinnitus and hearing impairment. The patient’s age should also be mentioned, as it is associated with an increased likelihood of tinnitus because ageing of the body also means ageing of all organs and tissues, resulting in reduced functional capacity.
What about tinnitus treatment?
Regarding treatment, the primary goal is to treat the underlying cause of the tinnitus. In most cases, resolving the primary condition also resolves the tinnitus. However, in some patients, no cause can be identified, or the underlying cause cannot be treated. In such cases, tinnitus persists, and patients need to learn how to live with it without allowing it to impair their quality of life. Vitamin therapy, particularly B-group vitamins (with emphasis on vitamins B1, B6 and B12), may be beneficial in protecting the function of the auditory nerve. B-group vitamins are also important for the normal functioning of the nervous system, as they play a key role in the nourishment and regeneration of nerves.
References:
- Arnvig, J. (1953) Objective tinnitus. Acta Otolaryngologica, Supplement 109:1053. [PubMed]
- Hearing loss and tinnitus P. Plath J. Oliver Adv. Otorhinolaryngol. 1995; 49:101-4