Best Head and Neck Hospital in Los Angeles

In the United States, approximately 50 million people experience tinnitus.

However, only about one in five of these tinnitus sufferers will have symptoms that cause distress and alterations to their lives. Those experiencing this condition, especially when it is bothersome, should consult with a doctor at the best head and neck hospital in Los Angeles.

Causes

Numerous conditions might cause this condition. Inner ear cell damage is a very common cause. When this is the case, the tiny ear hairs are interpreted by the brain as sound when they move. (normally, they are not heard). This can cause patients to hear a persistent sound. Other common causes include:

• Loud noise exposure
• Ear bone changes
• Age-related hearing loss
• Earwax blockage

The following are either uncommon or rare causes of this issue:

• TMJ disorders
• Acoustic neuroma
• Meniere’s disease
• Neck or head injuries
• Neck and head tumors
• Turbulent blood flow
• Atherosclerosis
• High blood pressure
• Capillary malformation
• Certain medications, such as cancer drugs, quinine drugs, aspirin, antibiotics, water pills or aspirin

Symptoms

This condition is characterized by the sensation of noises happening in your ears, but there is no external source of sound present. These phantom noises may include buzzing, clicking, ringing, roaring, or hissing.

For some people, these noises are mild and merely a nuisance. However, for others, they can be very loud and almost like a squeal. There are two types of this condition doctors at the best head and neck hospital in Los Angeles see:

• Objective: This type can be heard by anyone examining the patient’s ears. It is rare and may be associated with a condition of a middle ear bone, a blood vessel problem or muscle contractions.
• Subjective: This is the type most people experience, and only the patient is able to hear it. It can be associated with issues in any part of the ear, or problems with the auditory pathways or auditory nerves.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves determining the type of tinnitus and the underlying cause. Doctors at the best head and neck hospital in Los Angeles may use the following methods:

• Movement testing
• Imaging tests
• Physical examination
• Hearing examination

If the doctor suspects a certain cause, they may also perform testing for this. The testing required depends on the suspected condition.

Treatment of Tinnitus

Treating the underlying cause is typically the first step in the treatment process. This may include:

• Removing any obstructive earwax that is present
• Making changes to the patient’s medications if one or more of these is causing their tinnitus
• Taking care of any issues of the blood vessels that are contributing to the condition

To help make this condition more bearable, there are various treatment options that doctors might recommend to patients, including:

• White noise machines to help reduce the internal noise
• Masking devices to mask the noise
• Hearing aids for those experiencing this issue due to a hearing issue
• Tinnitus retraining to mask specific frequencies the patient is hearing
• Certain medications, such as alprazolam or tricyclic antidepressants

Doctors at the best head and neck hospital in Los Angeles can help patients to determine the underlying cause. Once this is determined, a treatment plan for tinnitus can be created.