Buzzing sound in the ear

Buzzing noise in the ear: What is it? It can be a low or loud, continuous or irregular, one-sided or two-sided sound reminiscent of a fan, an engine or a bumblebee. Ringing in the ear can be temporary or chronic, and it can vary in strength and frequency.

Buzzing sounds in the ear can be tinnitus, a condition where you hear sounds that are not in your environment. It can be a low or loud, continuous or irregular, one-sided or two-sided sound reminiscent of a fan, an engine or a bumblebee.

Tinnitus is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of something else that affects your hearing. There are many possible causes of a buzzing sound in the ear, and they can be divided into two main groups: external and internal.

External causes that can cause tinnitus

External causes of buzzing in the ear are those that come from your surroundings or your body. They can be:

• Loud noises: Exposure to loud sounds, such as from music, traffic, machinery, tools or weapons, can damage the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that convert sound waves into nerve signals. When the hair cells become damaged or overloaded, they can send incorrect signals to the brain that are interpreted as sound. This can cause buzzing in the ear and other forms of tinnitus.

• Ear wax or foreign objects: Ear wax or foreign objects stuck in the ear can block the ear canal and change the pressure in the ear. It can also irritate the eardrum or cause infections. This can lead to a buzzing sound in the ear or worsen existing tinnitus.

• Ear diseases or injuries: Certain diseases or injuries affecting the ear can cause buzzing in the ear. For example, Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, acoustic neuroma, perforated eardrum or ear cartilage can lead to excessive fluid or pressure in the inner ear that disrupts balance and hearing.

• Neck or jaw problems: Tension, inflammation, osteoarthritis or injuries in the neck or jaw can affect the nerves and muscles connected to the ear. This can cause a buzzing sound in the ear or worsen existing tinnitus.

Internal causes can also cause tinnitus

Internal causes of ringing in the ear are those that come from your brain or nervous system. They can be:

• Blood pressure problems : High or low blood pressure can affect blood flow to the inner ear and brain. This can cause pulsating tinnitus that follows the heartbeat and buzzing sounds in the ear that are due to turbulence in the blood vessels.

• Cardiovascular diseases : Certain cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, aneurysms or tumors can disrupt blood flow to the inner ear and brain. This can also cause pulsating tinnitus and buzzing sounds in the ear.

• Diabetes: Diabetes can lead to nerve damage or poor circulation that can affect the auditory nerve or inner ear. This can cause buzzing in the ear and other forms of tinnitus.

• Stress, anxiety or depression : Stress, anxiety or depression can affect the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood, pain and sound perception. This can make you more aware of buzzing sounds in your ear and more sensitive to loud noises. It can also affect your sleep, your appetite, your energy and your motivation.

• Certain medications: Certain medications such as aspirin, antibiotics, antidepressants, diuretics, or chemotherapy can have side effects that affect the auditory nerve or inner ear. This can cause buzzing in the ear and other forms of tinnitus.

There is no cure, but there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and learn to live with it. You are not alone with your problem, and there is help available.

You can read more about the treatment by clicking here: Treatment with Tinearity G1 Please get in touch if you want to know more about how we at Duearity treat tinnitus: info@duearity.com

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