Most tinnitus is only heard by the one who has tinnitus. There are some causes of tinnitus that may be heard by a physician. Tinnitus of this type is called objective tinnitus. Examples of objective tinnitus include abnormal blood vessels in the ear or by muscle spasms which may sound like clicks or cracklings inside the middle ear.
There are many known causes of tinnitus. The most common known cause is from hearing loss. You may not realize that you have a hearing loss. Dr. Pasha routinely orders an audiogram or hearing test for tinnitus patients to see if you have a significant loss of hearing. Hearing loss from advanced age and loud noise exposure are the most common forms of hearing loss that causes tinnitus. Although hearing loss is common with tinnitus patients many causes of tinnitus cannot be identified.
Other common causes of tinnitus include:
Medications: especially aspirin containing medications
Stress: stress may be a trigger for tinnitus
Ear Wax (Cerumen): a plug of wax in the ear may cause temporary tinnitus until it is removed
Ear Infections: fluid behind the eardrum may cause ringing in the ear
Allergies: allergic rhinitis has been associated with tinnitus
Medical Problems: diabetes, high-blood pressure, thyroid disorders have all been shown to cause noise in the ears
Tumors: tumors of the ear are a rare cause of tinnitus