Tinnitus is an oft-misunderstood ailment. There aren't really any traditional "signs" of tinnitus -- it's either there, or it isn't. Tinnitus is defined as any sound that's not present in the environment, but is still perceived in the auditory system. It often manifests as a humming, ringing, buzzing, clicking, “crickets,” or a rumbling noise. One might also notice a "fullness" or feeling of pressure in the ear.
New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration and renewal. It’s also a time for loud parties and fireworks, which can inflict hearing damage. New Year’s Eve can be a particularly troublesome time when it comes to noise, but it’s possible to safeguard the hearing of yourself and your family without missing out on the fun.
Hearing loss can be separated into three main types. Sensorineural hearing loss comes from the inner ear and its pathways to the brain. Conductive hearing loss is related to poor sound transmission. Sounds do not get to the inner ear in an efficient way. Finally, there is a mixed type of hearing loss that has components of both. Conductive hearing loss is usually the easier of the three to correct with some sort of medical or surgical intervention. In order to effectively treat conductive hearing loss, it’s important to understand the structure of the ear and the possible causes of conductive hearing loss to determine the best method of correction.
