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What Causes Tinnitus After A Head Injury?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Feb 2015
Question: Three days back, there was a blow on head , because accidentally it was pushed on wall, since last two days i am listening a kind of sound in my head over the ear only when i sit in a silent place. First time i am facing such kind of issue. What is it? Which medicine i should go for? Please suggest me. Age 29 years, weight 85 kg, height 178 cm, bp normal, temprature 98.6.
Currently i am not taking any medicine but just giving hot water massage.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Need not worry; observe for few days.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM forum.
Thanks for posting to us.

I think this need not be taken as a serious issue.

If there was no history of features like loss of consciousness/nausea/vomiting/ear ache/bleeding from ear canal following the blow, and you do not have any difficulty in hearing through that ear or associated vertigo, this symptom (tinnitus) alone is not be worried, and no drug treatment is needed.

This might have resulted from disturbance in the cochleo vestibular apparatus during the sudden blow. This is likely be resolved on its own in 7 to 10 days.

So you can just keep a watch on it and if not getting better by 5 to 7 days, kindly see an ENT specialist for further evaluation.

Hope this will answer your query.
Be free to ask if you need further clarification.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Muhammed Aslam (7 hours later)
Dr. I am not preety much satisfied with the answer given, coz this kind of information is there at google, which i already gatherd, please dont mind.. concernning doctor means, establishing connection with god.
If it is tinnitus then, how much serious it is? How to come up with this issue? What medicine should be taken, which ear drop should i use as for precaution.
One thing i confrim is that there is no sign of loss consciousness/nausea/vomating/ ear ache/ ear bleeding/ difficulty in hearing.
Please suggest me something best.
Regards.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No medicine/ear drop is needed if no history of ear bleeding/vertigo.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Thanks for the information given.

Absent history of loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, or severe persistent headache excludes significant head injury, and since there was no earache, ear bleeding, vertigo or decreased hearing, major dysfunction of cochleo vestibular apparatus is also excluded.

Tinnitus, as I mentioned earlier is due to minor disturbance in the cochlear apparatus during the blow. This usually will resolve its own in few days. If this is persisting beyond 7-10 days we will need further evaluation with otoscopic examination and an audiometry.

Now I will answer your doubts once again one by one:

1)Isolated tinnitus following minor impacts is not a serious condition. Most of of the times will resolve its own.
2)We can observe for 7-10 days. If not getting better, you have to do an initial otoscopic examination(other causes like impacted wax in the ear canal can also precipitate or cause tinnitus), and other investigations like audiometry and imaging depending on the initial findings.
3)No medicines are needed/useful for tinnitus. Treatment is only correction of the underlying cause.
Vestibular stabilizing agents like betahistine or cinnarizine is helpful only when this is associated with vertigo.
Drugs like tricyclic antidepressants or benzodiazepines are tried only in cases of severe persistent tinnitus causing sleeping disturbance.
4)No ear drops are useful in tinnitus in our case.
Eardrops are used when there is associated bleeding(to prevent secondary infection) or to dissolve wax, when this is caused by impacted wax.

One thing you can do is to avoid smoking and reduce caffeinated drinks, as these can exacerbate tinnitus from any cause.

Hope this answer will help.
If you pinpoint further doubts, I will be happy to help; otherwise, if you are still not satisfied, kindly ask for refund.
Wishing you good health, and sorry for inconvenience.
thank you.
Note: Get 1 to 1 help with your critical health concerns.Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Muhammed Aslam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 987 Questions

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What Causes Tinnitus After A Head Injury?

Brief Answer: Need not worry; observe for few days. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Welcome to HCM forum. Thanks for posting to us. I think this need not be taken as a serious issue. If there was no history of features like loss of consciousness/nausea/vomiting/ear ache/bleeding from ear canal following the blow, and you do not have any difficulty in hearing through that ear or associated vertigo, this symptom (tinnitus) alone is not be worried, and no drug treatment is needed. This might have resulted from disturbance in the cochleo vestibular apparatus during the sudden blow. This is likely be resolved on its own in 7 to 10 days. So you can just keep a watch on it and if not getting better by 5 to 7 days, kindly see an ENT specialist for further evaluation. Hope this will answer your query. Be free to ask if you need further clarification. Thank you.