Tinnitus, which is spelled as tin-ih-tus is an issue related to ears in the human body. It is a condition in which a patient hears a noise or ringing in the ears. It is actually not a condition by itself and experts state that it is just a symptom of an underlying condition. The underlying condition can be anything like disorders with the circulatory system, injury in the ear, or hearing loss due to age.
Is It a Sign of a Serious Illness?
Even though it is a bothersome condition, it is not generally a sign of something serious. There are diagnostic methods and tinnitus treatment like Tinnitus Terminator that will help with improving this sound in the ear. In some cases when the underlying condition is treated, tinnitus will go away. Also, some tinnitus treatments will help with masking or reducing the noise, thereby making the noise less noticeable for the patient.
Types of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is classified into two types and they are as follows:
- Subjective tinnitus: This is the most common type of tinnitus. When analyzing the causes of tinnitus that comes under this type, it is generally caused by ear problems in the outer, middle or inner ear. Problems in auditory nerves can lead to this type. Even problems with part of the brain can be interpreted as sounds.
- Objective tinnitus: In this type, the doctor can hear the sound when conducting an examination. This type is rare and it can occur due to problems with blood vessels. Even, it can occur due to muscle contractions or a middle ear bone condition.