Tinnitus, or Ringing in the Ears Can be One of Most Frustrating and
Irritating Problems to Live and Deal With
by Kathy Peck
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears can be one of the most frustrating and
irritating problems to live and deal with. Since there are over a hundred
causes for the problem, a technique that corrects the condition for one
person may do absolutely nothing for someone else. Correction is difficult
in part due to the remarkable sensitivity of the ear. The ear drum moves
only a thousand millionth of a centimeter (less than the diameter- of
a hydrogen atom) in response to the minimal sound you can hear at 1,000
Hz. It's sensitivity is greater than any microphone possible. If it were
any more sensitive, we would hear the constant noise of air molecules
hitting our ear drums. When you realize how delicate a structure we're
dealing with, it's amazing that all of us don't constantly hear the blood
as it's pumped through the tiny arteries in and around the ear drum, or
thousands of other similar noises.
With tinnitus, only the sufferer hears the noise. It's not always a ringing
sound. It can be buzzing, hissing, roaring, whistling, ringing or a, combination
of sounds. It can be constant or intermittent. All of us have experienced
a temporary type of tinnitus after hearing a loud rock concert, explosion,
gun shot or noise. Fortunately, for most of us, it quickly subsides. For
an estimated 10 million people in this country, however, it is a constant
noise so loud they - are practically deaf most of the time. Another 35
million experience less severe episodes.
Practically any ear disorder can cause tinnitus including: obstruction
of the exterior ear canal; infection of the interior ear, internal ear,
tube, the covering of the brain, the mastoid bone; toxcicity from heavy
metals, alcohol, carbon monoxide, etc; anemia; hypothyroidism; cardiovascular
disease; high blood pressure; hypoglycernia; aspirin; diuretics; antibiotics;
hereditary nerve or bone formation; trauma to the head; noise-induced
hearing loss; eustachian tube obstruction; neck problems; cranial bone
misalignments; Menieres disease; Temporalmandibular Joint dysfunction;
calcium deposits, etc.
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