Khaberni - The German Association of Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery stated that tinnitus is a ringing in the ears, indicating that those with tinnitus hear different sounds in their ears like whistling, ringing, buzzing, or humming.
While subjective tinnitus is only heard by those affected, objective tinnitus can also be heard by others and can be measured by doctors with special equipment.
The association clarified that objective tinnitus is due to many causes; it is often due to disorders in the auditory system or the nerves associated with it. Tinnitus is mostly attributed to the sound of blood flow through narrowed blood vessels or to clicking sounds caused by involuntary muscle vibrations in the middle ear or palate.
In addition to these vascular and muscular sounds, breathing-related sounds may also be heard. Those affected often describe these sounds as pulsating and intermittent.
Heart Diseases
The sound of blood flow in the large blood vessels in the neck is the most common objective tinnitus. This flow can be heard in the ear due to reasons such as heart valve diseases, arteriosclerosis, vascular malformations, or aneurysms.
Symptoms usually worsen in patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, and tinnitus can be heard in both ears.
Middle Ear Tumors
Middle ear tumors, known as glomus tumors, which are rich in blood vessels, can cause objective tinnitus. Despite their small size, they are located close to the sensitive structures of the ear. In such cases, the ear tinnitus is heard in only one ear.
Occasionally, vascular malformations in the dura mater surrounding the brain, if close to the ear, might make blood flow perceptible.
Sometimes, tension in the jaw muscles or middle ear muscles can lead to tinnitus. The clicking and popping sounds are independent of the pulse.
How is objective tinnitus examined?
Objective tinnitus can be examined to determine the current source of the sound using a stethoscope, microphone, or ear tube. Vascular causes can be imaged using techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound of the carotid arteries or radiographic imaging of the arteries or veins near the ear during angiography.
Muscular phenomena, which arise in the middle ear muscles known as spasms, can be easily recognized based on the patient's description, and sometimes observed by an otolaryngologist, such as a vibrating eardrum or palate.
If the underlying cause is treated, objective tinnitus can also be eliminated; for example, vascular disorders or narrowing can be surgically corrected. Medications can also help alleviate spasms and muscle tremors. In addition, blockages of the cervical vertebrae or jaw misalignments can be corrected.
