Are you going mad with that tinnitus in your ears? Discover whether your tinnitus is inherited or what the cause may be.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the name describing a person’s perception of a ringing, droning, or buzzing in the ear with no external noises present to explain this sensation. The direct translation of the word tinnitus is”ringing like a bell”.”
How will my everyday living be affected by tinnitus?
Tinnitus can disrupt personal connections in numerous frustrating ways. It’s not a disease in and of itself, but it’s a symptom of other conditions or conditions in your life such as hearing loss or damage. Your concentration can be significantly interrupted when you begin to hear tinnitus in one or both ears.
Regardless of how you’re experiencing tinnitus, it is always bothersome. Sleep loss, anxiety, and even depression can also be triggered by tinnitus symptoms.
What are the causes of tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be long lasting or it can come and go. Temporary varieties of tinnitus are normally triggered by extended exposure to loud noises, like a rock concert. There are a number of medical issues that tend to go hand-in-hand with tinnitus.
A few of the circumstances that may play host to tinnitus include:
- Buildup of excessive earwax
- Changes in the composition of the ear bone
- Injuries that affect nerves of the ear
- Age-related hearing impairment
- Teeth grinding (bruxism) caused by a TMJ disorder
- Several medications
- Depression or anxiety
- Meniere’s Disease
- Acoustic neuroma where a benign tumor grows on the cranial nerve running from the inner ear to the brain
- Inner ear infections
- Exposure to loud sound for sustained periods of time
- Trauma to the neck or head
- Inner ear cell damage and irritation of the fragile hairs used to conduct sound, causing random transmissions of sound to your brain
Is it possible that my parents could have passed down the ringing in my ears?
Tinnitus isn’t directly inherited. However, your genetics can play a part in this symptom. You can, as an example, inherit a tendency for your ear bone to change. Abnormal bone growth can cause these changes and can be handed down through genetics. Here are a few other conditions you may have inherited that can cause tinnitus:
- Being prone to inner ear infections or wax build-up
- Being predisposed to depression or anxiety
- Certain diseases
The ringing in your ear isn’t directly inheritable, but you may have been genetically susceptible to the conditions that are breeding grounds for tinnitus.
If you have a history of tinnitus in your family, it’s really in your best interest to make an appointment with us so we can evaluate your hearing.