Noise in the ear can occur absolutely suddenly and is often very unpleasant and disturbing for the person affected. This symptom should be taken seriously in any case, as it may indicate a disease or damage to the ear that requires treatment. The earlier treatment begins, the easier the therapy and the better the chances of success.
What is noise in the ear?
In addition to noise in the ear, there may be a decrease in hearing and also dizziness due to an impaired sense of balance. Noise in the ear can occur quite unexpectedly and for no initially apparent reason. In addition to the noise, other ear noises may also occur, such as a ringing or whistling sound. Such ear noises are often referred to as tinnitus. Both ears do not have to be affected equally, it is also possible that these noises only occur in one ear. The duration and intensity of the ringing in the ears varies greatly. In addition to the ringing in the ears, there may be a reduction in hearing and also dizziness due to a disturbed sense of balance. This condition is often perceived by sufferers as very disturbing and stressful. The constant noise in the ear is an enormous burden and sometimes also causes sleep disturbances. Concentration problems can also occur because the ear noises are very distracting. In the case of long-lasting complaints, noise in the ear can even trigger depression and anxiety.
Causes
Noises in the ear and accompanying ringing in the ears can have many different causes. These may stem from serious medical conditions or may just be caused by rather harmless circumstances. One of the harmless causes would be the development of a ringing in the ear due to stronger noise effects. After a visit to a discotheque or a concert, brief noises in the ears may well occur. Due to the loud music, the eardrum and sometimes the entire ear are irritated, it reacts with noise as a symptom. This is called noise trauma. In addition, a middle ear infection can be responsible for the noise in the ear, or jaw and dental problems. Often, however, a hearing loss is the trigger for noise in the ears. This can be caused by stress and other psychological strains. Other causes can be tumors, vascular problems and circulatory disorders.
Diseases with this symptom
- Otitis media
- Tympanic membrane injuries
- Hearing loss
- Bang trauma
- Circulatory disorders
- Tinnitus
Diagnosis and course
For diagnosis, a specialist, the so-called ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor should be consulted. This has the necessary expertise, as well as the special examination equipment to make a thorough diagnosis. First, the doctor will have a detailed conversation with the patient to clarify the exact circumstances of the symptoms, how the noise in the ear is perceived and whether there are other noises in addition. Using an audiometer, the ear noises can then be analyzed in more detail and the frequency under which the complaints are most severe can be determined. A hearing test, a detailed ear, nose and throat examination, the measurement of ear pressure and a test of the function of the auditory bones, also help in the diagnosis. A blood sample may be taken to determine inflammation levels and antibodies. If the murmur in the ear occurs for a long time, internal causes can be detected by means of a computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If there is a suspicion that there are problems with the teeth or jaw, a visit to a dentist should be made.
Complications
Unpleasant and more or less permanent noise in the ear is a typical symptom of tinnitus. In 99 percent of cases, it is not caused by an organic defect in the ear, but by faulty circuitry in brain areas responsible for processing incoming signals from the auditory nerve. Depending on its severity, noise in the ear can cause a wide range of impairments if left untreated. The impairments range from barely perceptible to permanently severe due to the constantly perceived loud noise. Even if the strong noise does not lead to any direct physical impairment, there are secondary mental problems.They include, for example, states of exhaustion, depressive moods, pain, anxiety disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Social isolation can develop from this, which promotes further mental and somatic disorders. If the occurring noise is treated from the beginning with medication and special physiotherapy, a cure is not always possible. However, an overall therapy concept also takes mental and acoustic training into account, which serves to block out the noise as much as possible. This can be achieved in a combination of acoustic with mental training. The main result is that the affected person is spared from social isolation even in the case of severe tinnitus, and the tinnitus does not necessarily lead to a severe impairment of everyday life.
When should you see a doctor?
If there is a hissing in the ear, it is not mandatory to see a doctor. In most cases, noise in the ear occurs when the ear is subjected to too much stress over a long period of time. This can be a strong breeze or loud music and generally loud noises. As a rule, the noise in the ear then disappears after a few hours or at most a few days and does not lead to any further complaints. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted if the noise in the ear occurs over a long period of time and does not disappear on its own. The visit is also necessary if there is a reduced quality of life due to the noise in the ear. This includes, for example, sleep disturbances, severe pain or concentration problems. In the case of these complaints, a medical examination is also necessary. The doctor should also be consulted if the ear complaints occur after an accident. This may be a serious injury that needs to be treated by a doctor. In most cases, however, the ringing in the ear disappears on its own if the patient takes care of his ears.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of noise in the ear, of course, depends entirely on the diagnosis made. Often psychological causes are the reason for the complaints. Therefore, the stress factors should be found and avoided. In case of serious psychological problems, psychotherapy may be necessary. Affected persons should in any case pay attention to a balanced lifestyle with sufficient recovery phases. Sporting activity can provide a good balance. If a hearing loss has been diagnosed, various treatment options are available. However, there is no treatment option that is guaranteed to make the symptoms disappear. One possible treatment for noise in the ear caused by a hearing loss is infusion therapy. This involves administering cortisone through an infusion and is intended to fight inflammation and swelling. Cortisone therapy can also be given with tablets or by direct injection into the ear. This so-called intratympanic therapy has gained importance in recent years and is being used more and more. If the cortisone is injected directly into the ear, the active ingredient does not affect the body’s metabolism and thus fewer side effects occur. Ginkgo (e.g., Tebonin) can also be used for hearing loss, and this can be done in support of other treatments.
Outlook and prognosis
No treatment by a doctor or self-help is usually possible for a ringing in the ear. In most cases, the symptom disappears on its own and does not lead to further discomfort or problems. As a rule, the noise in the ear is caused by too loud music or another very loud noise. If the ear has been exposed to this over a long period of time, the noise can develop. The ear must be protected in any case. The patient should completely avoid loud noises and music. In the worst case, the hearing can be impaired by strong stress. If the noise in the ear does not stop on its own or occurs after an accident, a doctor must be consulted in any case. The symptom often leads to headaches and insomnia, the affected person can also only concentrate poorly, which often leads to aggressive behavior. Thus, a noise in the ear has a very negative effect on the quality of life. Treatment by the doctor is not possible, because the eardrum can not be treated specifically.In most cases, however, a positive course of the disease results if the ears are spared.
Prevention
To prevent noise in the ear, there is no one hundred percent prevention. Strong noise sources should be avoided or protection for yours should be worn. A healthy lifestyle with adequate rest avoids stress and therefore the risk of noise in the ear, which can be caused by a hearing loss.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Noise in the ear occurs in most cases after overloading the ears with loud noises or loud music. In this case, the ear should be spared. Loud and unnecessary noises should be avoided in any case. If this cannot be avoided at work, hearing protection must be worn to prevent further damage to the ear. In many cases, ringing in the ear occurs as an accompanying symptom of a cold or flu. In this case, the patient must rest and take care of the ears. It is important to warm the ear and not expose it to cold drafts. Most of the time, the ringing in the ear disappears again once the illness is overcome. Often stress is also the trigger for the unpleasant noise. In this case, stress therapy and relaxation therapy are worthwhile. Often, taking up a relaxing sporting activity such as yoga also helps against the unpleasant noise. However, if the noise in the ear does not disappear on its own after a few days, a doctor must be consulted. In doing so, further damage to the ear canal can be avoided.
