One in five people hear ringing, buzzing, or noise in their ears that’s not related to any external sound. ENT specialist Christina M. McAlpin, MD, of Los Angeles, California, treats this condition, known as tinnitus, with herbal and conventional medicine. You don’t have to put up with these annoying sounds. Call Dr. McAlpin’s friendly team or use the easy online form to schedule an appointment.
Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear a sound — buzzing, ringing, hissing, whooshing, or roaring — that the outside world doesn't cause. The sound may pulsate, or it may be continuous. Unilateral tinnitus affects one ear, and bilateral tinnitus affects both.
About 99% of people who have tinnitus have the subjective form, meaning no one else can hear the noise in their ears. Fewer than 1% have objective tinnitus that can be heard by a physician on examination. Blood flow or musculoskeletal movements cause the sounds in objective tinnitus.
You may get tinnitus after hearing a loud noise, enjoying a loud concert, or working in a factory with heavy machinery. Loud noises bend the sensitive hair cells in your ear that transmit sound to your eardrum. Usually, once the noise ends, your hearing returns to normal. However, prolonged exposure can permanently damage the hairs.
Aging is another common reason you may hear noises in your ears. As you age, the number of nerve fibers in your ears decreases. Having fewer nerve fibers leads to hearing problems, including tinnitus.
You are also at increased risk if you:
Usually, tinnitus is not serious. However, if the sound is loud enough, it could interfere with your hearing. A constant ringing or noise in your ears may also cause depression or prevent you from concentrating.
Tinnitus can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition, such as a head injury, disease, or blood-vessel disorder. If you have tinnitus that is persistent, interferes with your quality of life, or arises without explanation, you should call Dr. McAlpin for an evaluation and treatment.
Dr. McAlpin first tests your hearing to determine the cause of your tinnitus. Based on her findings, she may recommend:
If you have tinnitus, Dr. Christina M. McAlpin, expert ENT specialist, can help. Contact her helpful team by phone or book a consultation online.