The otorhinolaryngologist explained the causes of tinnitus

Tinnitus or ringing in the ears can occur for various reasons, from ear diseases to the effects of injury or medication. Marina Evsikova, an otorhinolaryngologist at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia on April 14.

"If tinnitus occurs, it is necessary to consult an otorhinolaryngologist as soon as possible. This will allow us to quickly identify the cause, start treatment in a timely manner and, as a result, avoid complications," the specialist noted.

According to the expert, tinnitus can be associated with disorders in the outer or middle ear, such as sulfur plug, otitis media or dysfunction of the auditory tube. Acoustic injuries, damage to the auditory nerve in sensorineural hearing loss, or side effects of certain medications may also be the cause.

In cases where it is not possible to determine the cause, we are talking about idiopathic tinnitus. For diagnosis, the doctor conducts an examination and, if necessary, prescribes additional studies. Among them are tympanometry to assess the condition of the middle ear and audiometry to test hearing.

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"In some cases, the patient is prescribed a CT scan of the temporal bone or an MRI scan of the brain. You may also need to consult a neurologist, cardiologist, or psychotherapist," Evsikova said.

Treatment tactics depend on the cause of the symptom. For diseases of the outer or middle ear, the underlying disease is treated. If it is a question of damage to the auditory nerve, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, including hormonal ones.

The expert stressed that prevention plays an important role. In particular, it is recommended to limit the time spent in noisy places and control the volume level when using headphones. When working in conditions of high noise, it is necessary to use hearing protection equipment.

Neurologist Ekaterina Demyanovskaya told Izvestia on March 3 that hearing loss may be associated not only with ear diseases, but also with damage to the central nervous system. According to the specialist, one of the most common neurological causes of hearing impairment is the neurinoma of the auditory nerve, which is also called vestibular schwannoma.

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