Hi. I'm 32 years old teacher who is suffering from ringing in my ears. Because of this symptom, I went to the USC Health Care Center but through all the necessary tests, including hearing test, they just happen to find my TB infection, for which I'm taking pills. But the main reason I went to the health care center is not solved. I can still feel ringing in my ears, which is often accompanied by dry cough and sore throat. This morning after taking four-day vacation-while I was taking vacation, I didn't feel ringing -, I started teaching. Since I don't use microphone I usually have to spead aloud to my 20 students. After I began teaching for 1 hour, ringing in my ear started again. And actually I feel kind of losing a little bit of hearing ability since I can't hear low, small sound which was not detected by hearing test, but I'm pretty sure I have. Because of this, when I'm speaking English (because English is my second language) or listening to English, I'm losing confidence of what I'm saying and don't feel like speaking to native speakers. What will be the solution for this?
Reply: -------------------
Bothersome tinnitus may accompany a variety of medical conditions including conditions primary to the ear that affect the outer, middle, or inner ear. Just a few examples would include ear wax accumulation, swimmer's ear, middle ear fluid, or labyrinthitis. Tinnitus may accompany conditions which affect the nerve of the ear as it courses toward the brain or conditions affecting the brain itself. Tinnitus may result from head trauma or may be noise related. Tinnitus may be related to systemic conditions that also involve the ear such as hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, or nutritional disorders.
The vast majority of those suffering from constant tinnitus affecting both ears have presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), hearing loss due to chronic noise exposure, or they have tinnitus related to medication side effects (ototoxicity). One of the most commonly used medications capable of causing tinnitus is aspirin.
If you have not already done so, I would recommend that you consult with an ear, nose, and throat specialist for an evaluation. There are a few treatment options available for the management of bothersome tinnitus as an isolated symptom but none are consistently effective in the majority of patients suffering from this symptom. Nevertheless, if the symptom is sufficiently bothersome, tinnitus masking devices (sound-generating instruments designed to mask the tinnitus), habituation therapy, or certain medications (Xanax, Klonopin, etc.) may be treatment considerations.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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