By IANSlife
March 28, 2023 (IANSlife) Tinnitus occurs when you hear ringing or other sounds in one or both of your ears. Several people are unlikely to hear the noise you hear when you have tinnitus because it is not caused by external sounds. Tinnitus is a common complaint. It affects between 15 per cent to 20 per cent of people, with elderly people being more likely to be affected.
Dr. Prateek Nayak, Consultant, and ENT Surgery, at Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, talks to IANSlife about one of the most frequent chronic health conditions.
Read Excerpt:
What is tinnitus and can it lead to hearing loss?
Dr. Prateek: Tinnitus is a common problem where a person experiences a ringing, roaring, clicking, or buzzing sound in the ears. This sound can be soft, loud, low-pitched, or of high intensity and is often not audible to others. While initially, this condition may not affect you much, if left untreated it can worsen and will affect your quality of life.
What are the factors that can cause tinnitus?
Dr. Prateek: It is important to understand that tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom indicating auditory ailments. Any abnormalities in the auditory system such as the ear, auditory nerves, and the parts of the brain processing sound waves can cause tinnitus. Other conditions that may also lead to tinnitus include:
Can tinnitus lead to hearing loss and what are preventive measures that you can take to avoid tinnitus?
Dr. Prateek: Tinnitus is usually an underlying condition and is accompanied by age-related hearing loss, an ear injury, or an issue with the circulatory system. Therefore, to avoid this condition, you must protect your ears from external irritants and hearing systems. Additionally, you must avoid exposure to loud noises and must wear earplugs if you are doing any machine work.
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