subject: Getting A Hearing Test To Identify Tinnitus Symptoms [print this page] The ability to hear -- from perceiving sounds as faint as a birds wings flapping to as loud as a lawn mower -- is a precious sense that shouldn't be taken for granted. It is very well known that many men, women, and children will have to deal with hearing loss in their lifetime. But there are also individuals suffering from additional noise that compromises daily communication and makes hearing downright uncomfortable. A hearing test in the form of a questionnaire or research and examination may identify this condition as tinnitus.
Tinnitus sufferers often complain of a range of sounds that would be distracting to anyone, including whistling, buzzing, whooshing, murmuring, roaring, and the all too common ringing in the ears. As a simple in office hearing test and evaluation with an otolaryngologist will reveal, many of the symptoms that these sufferers face are truly remarkable. The sounds that they perceive are the result of actual physical damage to the nerve receptors between the physical vibrations occurring in the ear and the brain's interpretation. Therefore, the brain will perceive sounds that aren't actually occurring. It can occur as the result of disruptions in blood flow, hypertension, or nerve damage causing mixed signals to and from the brain.
There are many men and women who wonder if they are at risk for this condition. The good news is that the same list of causes of tinnitus can be looked at as a list of preventative measures for anyone who believes that they are genetically, occupationally, or just environmentally at higher risk for an auditory malfunction as they age.
Although untreated ear infections can cause permanent nerve damage much like nasal allergy inflammation -- which is quite similar to the effects of wax build up -- attentive care can prevent tinnitus. Then there are also incidents when substances such as the presence of medications (or withdrawal from those medications), mercury and lead poisoning in the body can cause ear damage and neurological damage. It cannot be avoided when one experiences hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms as the result of one's aging.
The good news is that many times tinnitus can be greatly diminished or repaired when the cause has been remedied. But if someone believes that he or a loved one is dealing with one of the many forms and manifestations of this affliction, they should seek a hearing test in their area for further assistance. The objective for any auditory malfunction, damage or miscommunication is to prevent further loss of function, improve communication and develop coping skills for the future that lay ahead.
