Do you have ringing in your ears that’s driving you crazy? Discover whether your tinnitus is inherited or what the cause may be.
Tinnitus, what exactly is it?
A ringing, buzzing, or droning in the ears with no external cause of the noise is a condition called tinnitus. The direct translation of the word tinnitus is”ringing like a bell”.”
How will tinnitus impact my daily living?
Tinnitus can interrupt personal connections in many aggravating ways. It’s not a disease in and of itself, but it’s a symptom of other ailments or conditions in your life like hearing loss or injury. You might hear tinnitus in one ear or both ears and it can hinder your ability to focus.
Regardless of the way in which you’re experiencing tinnitus, it is always disruptive. Sleep loss, anxiety, and even depression can also be caused by tinnitus symptoms.
What are the causes of tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be constant or temporary. Sustained exposure to loud noise, such as a rock concert, is usually the cause of short-term tinnitus. There are a few medical conditions that tend to go hand-in-hand with tinnitus.
A few of the conditions that could play host to tinnitus include:
- Injuries that impact nerves of the ear
- Inner ear cell damage and irritation of the delicate hairs used to conduct sound, causing arbitrary transmissions of sound to your brain
- Sustained exposure to loud sound
- Buildup of excessive earwax
- Numerous medications
- Trauma to the neck or head
- Hearing impairment related to aging
- Depression or anxiety
- Infection of the inner ear
- Teeth grinding (bruxism) related to a TMJ disorder
- Acoustic neuroma where a benign tumor grows on the cranial nerve going from the inner ear to the brain
- Meniere’s Disease
- The ear bone has changed
Could I have inherited this ringing in my ears from my parents?
Tinnitus isn’t directly inherited. However, your genetics can play a role in this symptom. You can, for instance, inherit a tendency for your ear bone to change. These changes are a consequence of irregular bone growth that can be passed down through family lines. A few of the other conditions that can produce ringing in the ear could be passed down from your parents, including:
- Predisposition to anxiety or depression
- Specific diseases
- Being prone to inner ear infections or wax build-up
The ringing in your ear isn’t directly inheritable, but you may have been genetically susceptible to the disorders that are breeding grounds for tinnitus.
If you have a history of tinnitus in your family, it’s truly in your best interest to make an appointment with us so we can evaluate your hearing.