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What Can Cause Tinnitus To Come And Go. What Causes
Question: What can cause tinnitus to come and go. What causes tinnitus that comes on all of a sudden and stay? Sometimes I have gone without it awhile or it's barely noticeable. Sometimes it comes loud and never stops. I'm currently having loud ringing that started two weeks ago it came on all of a sudden. It was quiet then loud nonstop ringing. This isn't something that is new I've always experienced it but seems to be louder and more frequent.
Brief Answer:
You will need a thorough examination and some tests
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
Tinnitus is a very common symptoms especially after age 40.
Most of the time it might be related to blockage of the eustachian tubes due to a virus infection, last a couple of weeks and go away.
If it is so repeated it is important to have your ears checked and also have a tympanometry and an audiogramme.
These will examine your ears in detail and rule out any local problem with the space behind the eardrum and also Meniere disease as the cause of the symptoms.
To conclude:
Please have your ears checked with an othoscope (your PCP or ENT doctor can do this)
Have a tympanometry and audiogramme (the ENT doctor does these).
A neurological examination will be helpful to rule out brain problems as well. Listening to your heart and lungs and checking the vessels in your neck and also checking your jaws is important to identify the cause of the tinnitus (your PCP or ENT doctor can do these)
According to the results a diagnosis might be determined and proper treatment accordingly.
Unfortunately in some patients no clear diagnosis is set and symptomatic treatment with cinnarizine is done to reduce the sensitivity of the ears to the noise.
I hope this answers your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
You will need a thorough examination and some tests
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
Tinnitus is a very common symptoms especially after age 40.
Most of the time it might be related to blockage of the eustachian tubes due to a virus infection, last a couple of weeks and go away.
If it is so repeated it is important to have your ears checked and also have a tympanometry and an audiogramme.
These will examine your ears in detail and rule out any local problem with the space behind the eardrum and also Meniere disease as the cause of the symptoms.
To conclude:
Please have your ears checked with an othoscope (your PCP or ENT doctor can do this)
Have a tympanometry and audiogramme (the ENT doctor does these).
A neurological examination will be helpful to rule out brain problems as well. Listening to your heart and lungs and checking the vessels in your neck and also checking your jaws is important to identify the cause of the tinnitus (your PCP or ENT doctor can do these)
According to the results a diagnosis might be determined and proper treatment accordingly.
Unfortunately in some patients no clear diagnosis is set and symptomatic treatment with cinnarizine is done to reduce the sensitivity of the ears to the noise.
I hope this answers your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
The ear ringing is something I've had and is ongoing for years but seems more pronounced now . It's louder higher pitched. It is more noticeable when I have headaches. I also have Hydrocephalus and epilepsy. The ear ringing is usually there all the time ,but sometimes it will just stop,then start again later. Right now it's been a little over two weeks.
Brief Answer:
You will need investigations for the ICP as a possible cause of tinnitus in your case
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the extra information provided.
If the tinnitus is worse when you have headaches and you have hydrocephalus, both of them (the tinnitus and the headache) may be related to the pressure of the fluids in the brain.
Most of the cases tinnitus is related to ear problems but in your case due to the issues with the intracranial pressure (ICP) you might need to rule this as the cause of it (imaging studies like MRI might be ordered).
You will need to talk with your doctor, the one that follows related to hydrocephalus and get advice of the treatment.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zota
You will need investigations for the ICP as a possible cause of tinnitus in your case
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the extra information provided.
If the tinnitus is worse when you have headaches and you have hydrocephalus, both of them (the tinnitus and the headache) may be related to the pressure of the fluids in the brain.
Most of the cases tinnitus is related to ear problems but in your case due to the issues with the intracranial pressure (ICP) you might need to rule this as the cause of it (imaging studies like MRI might be ordered).
You will need to talk with your doctor, the one that follows related to hydrocephalus and get advice of the treatment.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zota
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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