What are the other causes of tinnitus?
Many people notice the onset of tinnitus as they get older, but cannot link it to anything specific. More than half the population will experience age-related hearing loss, and tinnitus will often occur as well.
Many experts believe that tinnitus could be linked to wear and tear of the tiny hearing cells in the inner ear, or to the fact that our brains do not process sound as effectively as we get older.
Other common triggers of tinnitus can be either a build up of wax in the ear canal or an infection within the middle ear. Your GP should examine your ears to check for both as possible causes. In both cases, tinnitus may just be a temporary symptom of the problem and will normally clear up with treatment.
Tinnitus may also be caused by an allergy, diabetes, surgery, thyroid problems, blood circulation problems or injury to the head or neck. These conditions and middle ear infections may require treatments not described in this factsheet and anyone who thinks their tinnitus may be linked to one of these conditions should always consult their family doctor.
In some cases, tinnitus may be caused or exacerbated by a change in the body's chemistry. This might be from taking certain prescribed medications (see below for further information) where drugs can aggravate or even be toxic to the hearing system which can result in deafness and tinnitus. Aspirin and alcohol can also aggravate tinnitus. Caffeine has a reputation for worsening tinnitus symptoms, and Deafness Research UK is currently conducting research to prove whether this is truly the case.
In addition to the inherent hazards of noisy nightclubs, people who use Ecstasy or other ‘club drugs’ could face an increased risk of permanent tinnitus. Ecstasy, amphetamines and other similar drugs fuel the need to dance longer, meaning longer exposure to high noise levels.
On rare occasions, tinnitus can be a sign of arterial disease. If this is the case, the sound can pulsate in time with the heartbeat. Anyone suspecting pulsatile tinnitus should be investigated for possible problems with their circulation.
Tinnitus may occasionally be caused by an acoustic neuroma. These are small, slow-growing benign tumours which press against and interfere with the auditory nerve. Although they are removable by surgery, there is an associated risk of hearing loss.
What substances can cause tinnitus?
A wide number of substances have been linked to tinnitus and it is impossible to provide a definitive list. However, it is known that tinnitus can be a side-effect of commonly prescribed drugs such as some of the anti-inflammatories and the anti-malarials. Drugs that damage the ear (‘ototoxic’ drugs) can also induce tinnitus. These include Cisplatin (anti-cancer) and antibiotics like Gentamycin. Some of the substances which have a suspected tinnitus-link include:
Alcohol | Loop diuretics |
Antidepressants (some) | Ergotamine Derivatives |
Aspirin | Nicotine |
Atropine Sulphate | Quinidine |
Carbon Monoxide | Salicylate |
Caffeine | Stimulants |
Chloroquine |
|
It is important to remember that people react differently to drugs. A drug that aggravates one person's tinnitus may not aggravate another's. It may also be that the medical condition itself increases the tinnitus symptoms rather than the treatment.
Drugs that are known to cause deafness usually have life-saving qualities and are only prescribed where absolutely necessary. If you are given such a drug, your doctor should discuss possible side effects with you and monitor you carefully while you are taking them.
