Home > Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine > Tinnitus

Definition

Tinnitus is a condition where the patient hears ringing, buzzing, or other sounds without an external cause. Patients may experience tinnitus in one or both ears or in the head.

Description

Tinnitus affects as many as 40 million adults in the United States. It is defined as either objective or subjective. In objective tinnitus, the doctor can hear the sounds as well as the patient. Objective tinnitus is typically caused by tumors, turbulent blood flow through malformed vessels, or by rhythmic muscular spasms. Most cases of tinnitus are subjective, which means that only the patient can hear the sounds.

Causes & symptoms

Subjective tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss and damage to the cochlea, or the inner ear. About 90% of patients have sensorineural hearing loss; 5% suffer from...