Tinnitus

Tinnitus, from the Latin word tinnītus, is the perception of sound within the human ear when no actual sound is present.  

Tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, is not a disease, but a symptom of another problem.

Some of the causes are:

• Ear wax blocking the ear canals
• Food allergies
• Reactions to medicines
• Middle-ear infections
• Blood vessel abnormalities in the brain
• Auditory nerve abnormality (due to exposure to loud noise)
• Diabetes
• Advancing of age
• Brain tumors (rarely)

Occasionally, tinnitus is temporary and will not lead to deafness.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com