05 Oct What causes tinnitus?

Put simply, tinnitus is a permanent, unpleasant ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling noise in the ear. The noise can have a variety of causes - it can disappear on its own or become chronic if nothing is done about it. The causes for the development of a Tinnitus you can find out in this blog article.

Triggers for tinnitus

Having tinnitus does not mean that you are ill in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a symptom that can have various causes. In total, science recognises over 90 different diseases of the auditory system that can cause tinnitus, including, for example

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Physical factors

Common factors that can be identified as the cause of tinnitus include cardiovascular diseases, as they mean that the ear is not optimally supplied with blood - which is essential for good hearing. For example, arteriosclerosis, cardiac arrhythmia or high blood pressure can lead to unpleasant noises in the ear. Diabetes can also have a negative impact on blood flow to the inner ear.

Tension in the neck, cervical spine and back, as well as dental and jaw problems, can also trigger tinnitus. They can press on the nerve roots or the spinal cord and send false signals to the brain.

Sometimes inflammation in the body, autoimmune diseases or diseases of the ears are also to blame for ringing in the ears, as they have a negative impact on the body's normal processes and functions. Other common causes are the condition after a sudden deafnessa bang or explosion trauma, injuries to the eardrum or an earwax plug.

Psychological factors

Overwork at work, conflicts in a relationship and other psychological problems can cause the body to develop tinnitus as a stress reaction or stress signal. This is because the body then releases more of the hormone cortisol, which leads to poorer blood circulation in the inner ear.

Other causes of tinnitus

More rarely, tinnitus is caused by craniocerebral trauma, a benign tumour of the auditory nerve (so-called acoustic neuroma), poisoning of the inner ear (e.g. by antibiotics), multiple sclerosis or Meniere's disease, a rare unilateral disease of the inner ear with severe rotary vertigo.

Tinnitus without recognisable cause

Some patients suffer from so-called idiopathic tinnitus. In this case, no clear physical or psychological cause is recognisable. This form of ringing in the ears can be compared to "phantom pain", where the patient feels pain exactly where the leg or arm was removed after the amputation of a limb. Very similar to ideopathic tinnitus, spontaneous activity of brain cells takes place here when the "correct" nerve information is no longer available or is too weak.

How can tinnitus be treated?

Tinnitus therapy Frankfurt: As varied as the causes of tinnitus can be, so too are the treatment options. If you are disturbed and restricted by the constant noise in your ear, then come and see us. We will investigate the causes and then work out a suitable treatment (e.g. medication with cortisone). You can find out more about this here: "What helps against tinnitus?"

Your tinnitus therapy in Frankfurt am Main

If you also suffer from tinnitus, you should make an appointment at our practice.

ENT Frankfurt: Dr Thomas Fischer & Dr Albrecht Linke

Your specialists for ear, nose and throat medicine, who will provide you with professional and individualised advice, examinations and treatment in all matters relating to ENT medicine, functional plastic surgery and the aesthetic treatment of changes to the facial skin.

Our news articles are prepared for you to the best of our knowledge and belief and are intended for general education. They are in no way a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment and are not intended to encourage self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Please always contact your ENT specialist in Frankfurt directly if you have any health complaints!

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