Tinnitus was once thought to be quite a rare condition but now that the rates have been rising significantly over the past few years, this is not necessarily so.  Doctors are not sure why more people are developing the tinnitus condition.  It’s important that anyone who thinks they may be exhibiting symptoms of tinnitus get in to see a doctor right away.

There is an important connection between tinnitus and hyperacusis.  Basically it’s the same condition only there are a few important differences. Hyperacusis is actually the originating condition in most cases, which then progresses and develops into tinnitus.  Hyperacusis is a condition in which the individual has sensitivity to sounds.

Even if the sounds are quiet, the person may feel as though they’re throbbing through their ears and it can be so intense that some people are not even able to carry on with their regular daily activities.  This condition can occur in people with hearing loss as well as those people who have perfectly normal hearing.  It can make everyday life hard to handle, especially if the individual lives in a busy apartment or works somewhere where it’s usually quite noisy. In cases where hyperacusis does progress and turn into tinnitus, medical attention must be sought right away.

If the tinnitus symptoms seem to come on suddenly this is usually the worst situation because it means that likely there is something wrong with the person’s health.  Patients usually report hearing a buzzing or ringing noise in their ears that’s persistent.  A lot of the time problems such as high blood pressure, allergies and even aneurysms can be responsible for the development of a tinnitus condition.  High blood pressure, tumors and aneurysms will all be checked for, as these are most often the cause of tinnitus.

Doctors are able to perform a few tests such as X-rays and audiograms in order to make a diagnosis.  If that individual is found to have tinnitus, the main goal of doctors from here on in is to determine the cause.  Using a white noise machine for instance, can help tinnitus sufferers to get to sleep better at night  Patients are often referred to otolaryngologists who are ear, nose and throat specialists.