Hearing sound when no external source of sound is present. The sound heard may be a buzzing, whistling, hissing or ringing sound on one or both sides.

Cause and risk factors

Drugs like antibiotics, water pills or diuretics, anti hypertensive like beta blockers, antiinflammatories like analgesics and antipyretics, chemotherapy or anticancer drugs antidepressants or antimalarials. Sound trauma like in explosions and fire arms. In Meniere’s disease which is disorder of inner ear which causes vertigo. Head and neck injuries particularly fractures. Acoustic neuroma which is a non cancerous growth in the brain. Chronic infection. Vascular disease like hypertension. Eustachian tube dysfunction. Tobacco and alcohol consumption. Mental problems like anxiety depression, hypochondriac etc. Duration of loud noise exposure is also important as in factory and construction workers, musicians and soldiers. It damages hair cells in the inner ear and aggravates the tinnitus.

Treatment

Tinnitus masker – device which only masks the tinnitus sound. Drugs like vasodilators, anxiolytics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, can be used. Other modes of treatment are surgery, prosthesis, cochlear implants. There are supplementary therapies like Cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, meditation.

Prevention

Helmet and plug can be used by high risk workers working in factories and construction projects and by musicians and soldiers.