‘Buzzing Ears’ May Be Caused by Extraneous Factors
It is almost one hundred per cent probable that the buzzing ears syndrome that people experience has been caused by external factors. These factors include (1) the ears being exposed to very loud noises, either blast or explosion type noises or prolonged loud noises as people might experience in a factory or a rock concert: (2) the taking of medication that can inadvertently cause harmful effects to the hearing mechanism: (3) Trauma occasioned by either blunt force trauma or mental trauma.
If we examine these factors in more detail it may be possible to outline exactly how they are responsible for the buzzing ears syndrome. As we know the ear is a very complex organ consisting of the outer ear (the visible part) the middle ear ( the canal starting at the ‘ear hole’) and the inner ear. It is change to the inner ear structure that causes the buzzing ears syndrome. The inner ear consists of the bony labyrinth which comprises two main parts – the cochlea and the vestibular system. The cochlea is the hearing mechanism. This organ is shaped something like the shell of a snail and is a spiralled, hollow, conical chamber of bone. The interior of the cochlea is populated by the organ of Conti which contains rows of hair cells and the ‘ear drum’. If these hair cells become damaged the hearing mechanism is impaired and may result in hearing loss or the onset of tinnitus. The ear drum is a membrane in the inner ear which vibrates and conducts sound to the brain via the organ of Conti and the important hair cells.
Blast noises can impact severely on the inner ear and may cause permanent hearing loss by perforating the ear drum or if less severe, causing damage to the hair cells, temporary hearing loss may ensue followed by permanent or temporary tinnitus. While loud noises from machinery or from loud music will not perforate the ear drum they can do permanent damage to the hair cells in the inner ear leading to reduced hearing and tinnitus or buzzing ears syndrome.
Some medications have been proved to be damaging to the hair cells of the inner ear resulting in tinnitus and impaired hearing.
Most people are fully aware of the seriousness of blunt trauma where the head receives a severe blow. The damage caused by such a shock can include actual trauma to the inner ear. Not alone can such damage impair hearing and lead to permanent or temporary deafness but it can result in permanent brain damage. One of the lesser effects of blunt trauma is the onset of buzzing ears syndrome. Mental trauma can result in a complete deterioration of bodily function and may affect the hearing mechanism leading to tinnitus.