The ear like every other part of the body is a very important organ. It is used for hearing as well as for balance. While there is an outer part of the ear that is visible, other parts are not visible but internal.
The outer part consists of the ear canal and the pinna. The middle part consists of three ossicles and the tympanic cavity. The inner part includes a bony labyrinth. It also includes structures that are key to the senses such as the semicircular canals. These enable balance as well as eye-tracking during movement.
The inner ear also includes the saccule and utricles that help to maintain balance when a person is stationary. There is also the cochlea that is essential for hearing.
The ear can be affected by a variety of diseases or other medical conditions. These can include traumatic damage and infections which may result in conditions such as hearing loss and balance disorders. It may also lead to vertigo. Conditions like this may also be related to brain or neural pathway damages that are connected to the ear. You may read more about the ear here.
What Is Tinnitus
Another condition that affects the ear is called tinnitus. This condition is a perception that there is a sound within the ear even with no external source of the sound. It is often not considered as an issue but as a symptom that something is not right with the auditory system.
Tinnitus presents in people differently. It may manifest in a lot of ways such as clicking, ringing, humming, thumping, whooshing, buzzing, or as a roaring sound. The intensity and frequency of the noise are dependent on the basal reason for the sounds.
While the noise can be low in some cases, it is may be high in other cases and interfering with an individual’s activities. The condition may be temporary or permanent depending on what caused it. These may include things such as injury or trauma to the head, earwax blockage and ototoxic medications. Other are loud sounds, autoimmune diseases, tumor growth and ear infections.
In addition to the noise in the ear, symptoms such as a lack of concentration, insomnia, and hearing difficulty can accompany tinnitus. Because people experience it in different ways, there are different types of it. These include objective, subjective, somatic and neurological.
A Look At The Different Types of Tinnitus
Subjective
This is type that most people experience. The noise experienced is only heard by the individual affected and it is often caused by exposure to excessively loud noise. Subjective tinnitus can appear suddenly and disappear the same way. It can last between 3 – 12 months before it disappears and comes around again but it may not disappear in severe cases.
Somatic
This type may otherwise be called pulsatile, synchronous, rhythmic, or vascular tinnitus. It is associated with the sensory system. It comes in the form of a rhythmic noise that aligns with the heartbeat of the individual experiencing it.
It may be the result of change or difficulty in the flow of blood in the vessels around the ear. It comes with either a thumping or whooshing sound and it is usually loud as well as distracting.
Objective
This is a rare form of the condition. It can be caused by vascular deformities or by the involuntary contractions of the muscles. It is the only form of the condition that may be heard by an observer and also the only type that can be cured. In this type, when the underlying cause is treated, the condition stops altogether.
Neurological
Neurological tinnitus is typically caused by a disorder like Meniere’s disease. This in turn affects the auditory functions of the brain.
To fully understand neurological tinnitus, one has to be familiar with what a neurological disease is. This is a condition that acts on the brain, various nerves in the body and on the spinal cord. It typically comes with symptoms like poor coordination, weakness of the muscles, loss of sensation and paralysis.
This condition can be caused by factors such as brain injury, nerve injury, trauma, malnutrition, genetic disorders, congenital abnormalities, etc. Asides from causing tinnitus, neurological disorders may affect a person’s cognition, movement, vision, communication, etc.
How Meniere’s Disease Causes Neurological Tinnitus
Meniere’s disease is one substantial reason for neurological tinnitus. This is a condition that affects majorly the inner part of the ear. It then causes tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss.
The inner part of the ear is what is responsible for hearing as well as balancing. Meniere’s disease is connected with a buildup of fluid inside the inner ear. This brings about a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear.
This feeling of pressure or fluid buildup affects the flow of sound. It also inhibits the signals that are sent to the brain. This, therefore, causes conditions like tinnitus, hearing loss and balance issues.
The exact cause of the fluid buildup that results in Meniere’s disease is not known. Studies have shown that poor ear drainage, viral infections, allergic reactions, etc. are some of the possible issues that can cause it.
Treating Neurological Tinnitus
Unfortunately, tinnitus cannot be cured but the good news is that you can find relief through a variety of treatments. This is done by treating the underlying cause of the problem. As an example, tinnitus caused by blockage due to earwax can be relieved if the earwax is removed.
You can also get relief from other more severe conditions. ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctors help to provide treatment for the ear. They can prescribe the kind of treatment or therapy that you need to find relief from neurological tinnitus. You can find more information by clicking this link https://audienhearing.com/blogs/home/neurological-tinnitus-1.
Conclusion
The ear is a vital organ in the body with several important functions like balancing and hearing. It can be plagued by diseases such as tinnitus which has no cure.
Thankfully, a sufferer of the condition can find relief through various treatments. An audiologist or ENT professional will prescribe to you the relevant treatment and also offer counseling to make it bearable.
