Symptoms of Tinnitus

There are many symptoms of tinnitus. From ringing to clinking to roaring, buzzing, and hissing. Tinnitus can take many different forms or take all at once. It can be very distressing if you do not know that tinnitus is. The main symptoms used to diagnose tinnitus include:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Clicking
• Hissing
• Whistling
• Pulsatile tinnitus

The noises may be continuous or could occur every now and then. All of these could have underlining causes, so it is best to contact a doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms. Symptoms such as fainting could be caused by a disease that needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

Some people find that in time their symptoms go away and with others, it stays. If your tinnitus has yet to go away and you have been living with it for years I suggest you check out our article titled ‘’Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus’’ In that article, we talk about how much CBT can improve your life and help you to have a more positive outlook when dealing with
tinnitus.

Clicking

Clicking is a very common symptom of tinnitus. The clicking comes from swallowing. When we swallow, yawn, or blow our noses, the Eustachian tube opens and allows air to pass from the middle of your ear to the back of your nose. This symptom is very similar to pulsatile tinnitus because it is a result of damage to the nerves in your ear. Because of that you can hear things in your body that most people can’t. In pulsatile tinnitus you can hear your heartbeat but the clicking in the ear is you hearing you eustachian tubes opening with each swallow. It can be alarming and annoying but can be treated by a doctor.

Hyperacusis

Hyperacusis is a fancy word for saying that the patient is very sensitive to sounds. Even if the sound is at a normal or low volume it may be distressing to someone that is struggling with tinnitus. It is because the brain is working overtime to compensate for the damaged nerves in your ear. So, do not fret if the tv is at a normal volume and yet it feels as if your eardrums could split at any moment. This is a normal reaction to tinnitus. It is distressing but can be helped by visiting a doctor. Hyperacusis is often the result of prolonged exposure to loud noises. This issue is most commonly viewed amongst musicians and people who work with machines or contruction.

Pulsatile tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus is different from regular tinnitus in that you may hear rhythmical noises that beat in time with your pulse. This problem is often caused by blood flow changes in the vessels near the ear, or to a specific condition such as a perforated eardrum or atherosclerosis.

Pulsatile tinnitus tends to come and go and rarely stays the whole time. The pulsing is your heartbeat. Every time your heart thumps your ears thump with it. It can be very alarming but just know that often it will fade away. I have observed that this tends to happen after the patient has been exposed to loud noises for a long period of time and the ears are overwhelmed. It is a sign that the vessels near the ear have been damaged or irritated recently.

These symptoms are signs that you must go see a doctor as soon as possible. For help with these symptoms contact us today to schedule an appointment to treat your tinnitus. We can help you on your way to improving your life and mindset.