[thedoc (OP)]

Susan Purchase  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I am so fed up with this problem.  I have tinnitus in both ears, and it is driving me crazy.  I have learnt to subconciously block it out, but i know it is there.  What is the cause of this and is there a treatment to help cure it?

Thanks

Susan Purchase, South Africa

P.S. I really enjoy your talk show on 702.  Pity it is so short. So many questions and too little time!
What do you think?

[evan_au]

Statistics suggest that tinnitus affects 10-15% of the population, but is a real problem for only 1-2% of the population.
If you can block it out, consider yourself fortunate.
There are methods and devices that can help you block it out, but there is currently no universal effective treatment.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

[nilak]

I'm not a specialist, but you can consider searching in this direction. It might be an indication of a potential dysfunction of the organism like enzyme production or an immune response to a protein in the food (usually cereals or dairy products) or even autoimmunity . These can lead to impaired blood circulation. What usually triggers temporary tinnitus is the blood oxygen,  low saturation in the brain. A low  or high blood pressure can be a sign.  These may be connected.
i've found this:
http://tinnitusonline.blogspot.ro/2006/09/low-blood-pressure-and-tinnitus.html

[evan_au]

A low ... blood pressure can be a sign.

The quoted article is saying that if your blood pressure drops so low that you are about to faint, you may hear ringing in your ears.

a potential dysfunction of the organism like enzyme production or an immune response to a protein in the food (usually cereals or dairy products) or even autoimmunity

This sounds a bit unlikely.

In most cases, tinnitus is caused by mechanical damage to the hairs in your cochlea, caused by excessive exposure to noise.
So upcoming victims include those people who are wearing earphones attached to their i-Devices, and the sound is so loud that you can hear the sound as you walk by.

So protect your hearing - wear earplugs or earmuffs when mowing the lawn, attending rock concerts or engaging in other noisy activities.

[exothermic]

Recurrent tinnitus and associated ear symptoms in adults.
Int J Audiol. 2005 Mar;44(3):164-70.
Kuttila S1, Kuttila M, Le Bell Y, Alanen P, Suonpää J.

This study aimed to reveal in general population the prevalence, associations, and statistical model of recurrent tinnitus by means of a mailed questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 1720 randomly selected adults who were classified into three subgroups: recurrent (once a month or more often), occasional (less often than once a month), and no tinnitus. According to age and gender standardized prevalence, recurrent tinnitus was reported in 15% of the sample. It was statistically highly significantly associated with earache, fullness of ears shoulder pain, the 25-years age group, and visits to a physician. The strongest predictor of recurrent tinnitus was fullness of ears followed by earache, shoulder ache, and temporomandibular disorder pain. We conclude that recurrent tinnitus seems to be quite common in adults and associated with earache and fullness of ears. In patients with tinnitus without clinical findings, the examination of the stomatognathic system and cervical spine is recommended.

[exothermic]

Worth noting, swimmers ear [otitis externa] and otomycosis are also commonly associated with tinnitus.

[Irvinj345]

Tinnitus is actually the ringing in ears!
Tinnitus symptoms include these types of phantom noises in your ears:Ringing

• Buzzing
• Roaring
• Clicking
• Hissing
• Age related hearing loss, Exposure to loud noise, Earwax blockage and earphone changes are the main reasons for tinnitus.Earwax removal, treating a blood vessel condition and changing your medication can help to a great extent to overcome tinnitus.