Tinnitus & Sound Disorders

Tinnitus & Sound Disorders are a problem for many. Your ear has three main parts: inner, middle, and outer. To perform the function of hearing, you use all the parts. Sound waves enter your ear through the outer ear and then reach the middle part. In the middle ear, these waves vibrate your eardrum. There are three tiny bones in your middle ear called ossicles. These bones send the vibration to your inner ear. The inner ear is a snail-shaped organ that makes nerve impulses and sends them to your brain through sensory nerves. Your brain then recognizes these impulses as sounds.

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Tinnitus & Sound Disorders

Ear Infections

You may feel severe pain if you have an ear infection because of the fluid buildup and inflammation in your middle ear. This infection can be acute or chronic. Acute infections are painful, but they only last for a short period. Chronic infection can last for a long time. It can reoccur and cause permanent damage to the middle ear.

Causes of Ear Infections

An ear infection occurs when your Eustachian tube becomes blocked or swollen. The Eustachian tube connects your middle ear with your nasal cavity and upper throat and is an exit for the fluid. Any blockage in this tube can cause fluid to build up in your middle ear.

The following can be the reasons for Eustachian Tube blockage:

• Air pressure changes
• Allergies
• Sinus infections
• Colds
• Excess mucus
• Smoking
• Swollen or infected adenoids

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a common problem causing a ringing noise in the ears without an external source. Tinnitus can result from a variety of diseases or some damage to your inner ear. It happens due to hearing loss, circulatory system disorder, ear injury, etc. It can improve with treatment. Usually, your doctor will identify the cause of Tinnitus and treat. Because of that, your Tinnitus goes away. Masking techniques also work well in making this noise less noticeable.

Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus may occur due to the following reasons:

• Exposure to loud noise
• Blockage of earwax
• Changes in ear bone
• TMJ disorder
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Meniere’s disease

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Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is a condition that affects your inner ear and causes you to feel vertigo. You may experience a specific type of dizziness as though you are spinning. Meniere’s disease occurs in one or both ears, and can cause permanent hearing loss.

Causes of Meniere’s Disease

An infection in your ear causes fluid buildup in your labyrinth, which is a part of your inner ear. When this part of your ear fills with excess fluid, it interferes with the signals that your brain receives. With interference in the signals to the brain, you may feel hearing problems and vertigo.

It isn’t yet clear why people get infected with this disease, but researchers suggest following theories as the possible causes of fluid buildup:

• Viral infection
• Allergic reaction
• Migraine headaches
• Blow to the head
• Inherited tendency
• Autoimmune responses
• Poor drainage

Ear Barotrauma

This condition is a result of pressure differences between the outside and inside of the ear. Ear barotrauma can cause you pain, and in some cases, permanent hearing loss. The middle has air in and contains three small bones helping send the sound to the inner ear through vibration. The Eustachian tube also connects with this part of the area

The pressure inside the middle ear and outside environment should match. If there is any change in pressure, the Eustachian tube opens to equalize the pressure. Sometimes, this tube doesn’t open, damaging the eardrum due to change in the pressure. The eardrum is separating the middle and outer ear. A change in pressure causes damage or bleeding in the inner, middle, or outer ear. This condition can usually happen during air travel and diving.

Causes of Ear Barotrauma

Ear barotraumas occur due to pressure imbalance between the outer environment, and the environment inside the ear. The imbalance can occur due to an issue with the Eustachian tube. The fluid buildup or inflammation around the Eustachian tube can cause ear barotrauma. Some of these factors include:

• Sinus congestion
• Allergies
• Anatomical abnormalities
• Certain hormonal changes
• Exposure to smoke
• Cold or any other infection

Conclusion

Contact the Tinnitus Cognitive Center at (646) 213-2321 to get help with your condition as soon as possible. Our specialist, Stephen Katz LCSW, can help you live a normal life by treating a variety of issues with sound disorders, especially Tinnitus.