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Conditions

Tinnitus

Tinnitus

Sufferers of tinnitus can hear noise within their ear or head that is not coming from an outside source. It can be quite common amongst sufferers of colds, but can also be caused by exposure to loud music. Up to 10% of the population suffer from tinnitus and it can range from nothing more than an annoyance to a much more serious condition that can cause problems when sleeping or concentrating. Old age is the most common cause of tinnitus, but it can occur in any age group, and can be self-inflicted by over-indulgence in thrash metal. The most common cause is damage to the hearing nerves that causes a random series of signals to be received by the brain, and interpreted as sound. It can also be caused by ear wax, anaemia, and in rare cases by more serious medical conditions such as tumours. There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are various coping mechanisms that you can discuss with your GP.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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Though i sometimes hear a high pitched tone a lot of the time, recently when i go to bed i can hear a deep rumbling in my ear. Its hard to sleep with it. Is this still considered as tinnitus?





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I've got this sound, and sometimes I can JUST hear it. But sometimes like when I go to bed, it gets really loud. Its sort of like, idk, like the sound you get on the radio when there's nothing on the channel you turned it to. I wanna know if this is tinnitus i hope its not





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i keep getting a really high pitched, similar to that annoying tone many people have on their phone or pulsing noise that hurts my head... it usually happens when its quiet or when i try to get to sleep or am trying to concentrate anyone know how to stop these happening?





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I also have problems when im walking, i do find that Im all over the place sometimes, and i also get dizzy too.





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I have this sound in my ear where it feels like bubbles popping.. and sometimes when i lay on my ear i can hear what sounds like my heart beat :s I also do get ringing sounds in my ear, I always got worried when it happend but now whilst reading all of this, i understand.. I also DO listen to music ALOT, and very LOUDLY too. I also experience this thing where like a few hours after listening to a song on my ipod, I can hear it just randomly, and it replays over and over and over in my head.. So have I deffinatly got this condition?





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I'm prone to ear infections (it seems my right ear takes more damage) and have the volume up on my ipod all the time. My parents have been warning me about tinnitus since I was complaining of hearing things in my ears a few months ago. My ears are very sensitive to loud noises and I've been getting a lot of headaches and earaches recently. I'm hearing things in my right ear, but the noise is rather quiet, yet it still causes me some discomfort. Is this tinnitus?





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Ive been on various sites such as RNID offering reassurance to people who were stressed and going through some turmoil as a result of this condition. Im 47 and have had it for 38 years. Came on suddenly one morning in right then very gradually in the left. I wasnt even quite believed by GP way back in early 70's, no support, no reassurance, nothing. It was very frightening for a 9 year old back then. Around five years old I had very serious ear infections, eardrum damage, slight hearing loss, and have very recently had problems again with long term pain. Was offered gromits this time around but couldnt see the point in that and neither could my GP, he gave me an ear spray which has helped. Thank goodness for forums and the internet! There was nothing back in 71 for a scared 9 year old, only the local library and nothing much there. After so long Ive accepted that mine's permanent, have seen various ENT's since. One saying that it was very hard to treat. I just want to say, that yes I can relate to it being stressful, but it does get better, even if it doesnt go, you do learn to tune it out, I never ever hear it now, but it is there, it just becomes normal and as I said, you just eventually 'tune it out' you just dont hear it any more. Hope it gets better soon for anyone finding this condition difficult. Ive never forgotten how scared I was as a young child.





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Im 13 and I have had a ringing in my ears almost as long as I can remember. It doesn't bother me that much, only sometimes when Im going to sleep which can stop me sleeping. It'a more noticeable in quieter rooms and the ringing is not very loud, but I can still hear it. I don't listen to loud music very often, I normally have my ipod almost completely quiet. The only music I listened to when I was little was Steps, Britney Spears and the Cheeky girls, and I don't think any of them are that loud. Is this tinnitus? :)xxxxxx





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I have the same problem - I really never listen to music very loud, but when I am trying to get to sleep I can just hear a long ringing noise and it has stopped me sleeping for hours a night - Is there anything I can do to help?

Hey everyone im 37 i have ear pain and feels like lots of fluid in there when someone shouts or im on the phone that makes it worse it feels like i have rice crispies in my ear sometimes i feel a bit dizzy but the docs say there is nothing wrong with them, i suffer with synus problems as well ive been to ent and they wont look in to it further until july this year





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Hi every one, I have had loud ringing in my ears, dizziness and nausia. The doctor diagnosed me with Labyrinthitus, which I think is an inner ear infection. I was put on medication for the dizziness and some anti sickness tablets. All worked brilliantly but I am stuck with the ringing, which I have had for 6 months now. The ENT doctor said there is nothing any one can do to make it go. To make things easier I try not to be in a dead quiet environment because it makes it worse. When I go to bed, I switch on my noise machine which plays various sounds. I leave this on all night. I try not to get too stressed as this will make it worse. Positive thinking!





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Tinnitus is the medical name for the perception of noise in one ear, both ears or in the head. The noise comes from inside the body rather than an outside source. Read More »

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