Tinnitus is a common condition where you hear sounds not caused by external noise. It is usually harmless and will improve over time, but if the problem persists or worsens, it's best to seek medical advice.
Tinnitus can cause anxiety and depression in some cases
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a common condition experienced by an estimated 50 million people in the United States. It can be an annoying and debilitating symptom, but most cases are temporary.
Most people with tinnitus hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, or whistling noises. Some may also hear humming, chirping, or other sounds.
Most tinnitus, however, is not severe or even a warning sign of a medical problem. But in some cases, it can cause anxiety and depression.
How to Pronounce Tinnitus
There are two standard pronunciations of tinnitus: tih-NITE-us or TIN-ih-tus. The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) has decided that both pronunciations are correct. So what you need to know is that both pronunciations are acceptable. You can choose the pronunciation you like and sometimes use them interchangeably.
CD-10-CM Code for Tinnitus H93.1
ICD-10 code H93.1 for Tinnitus (pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-ih-tus) is a medical classification listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the range - Diseases of the ear and mastoid process.
- H93.1 Tinnitus
- H93.11 Tinnitus - right ear
- H93.12 Tinnitus - left ear
- H93.13 Tinnitus - bilateral
- H93.19 Tinnitus - unspecified ear
The ICD-10-CM code has been designed to accommodate current healthcare needs, allowing for more detailed data collection and improved coding of patient conditions. The new system also allows for more granular data tracking, making it easier to analyze healthcare quality measures and perform better biosurveillance.
Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be caused by various conditions, including head or neck injuries, Meniere's disease, and ear bone changes (otosclerosis). It can also be a side effect of certain medicines.
The most common causes of tinnitus are damage to the tiny cells in your ears (the cochlea) that transform sound waves into nerve signals that travel to the brain. Often, tinnitus will improve with time, although for some people, it may persist and be a sign of an underlying problem.
Medications can also cause tinnitus, especially if you take them at high doses. They include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, certain antibiotics, and some pain relievers.
Ear infections and ear canal blockage by earwax, dirt, or foreign material can also cause tinnitus. You may remove tinnitus by washing your ears and keeping them clean. Your doctor can also refer you to an audiologist for a hearing exam and treatment.
In some cases, tinnitus may occur because of an underlying medical condition, such as high blood pressure or atherosclerosis (a buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries). Chronic conditions that affect blood flow, including diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disorders, and certain autoimmune diseases, can trigger tinnitus.
Diagnostics and Tests
Your doctor will review your medical history and ask you to describe the tinnitus sounds you hear. Details about the tonal quality, intensity, duration, and rhythm can help your doctor make a diagnosis.
You might also answer questions about your diet, medications, health condition, and tinnitus-related activities. These can provide essential clues about the cause of your tinnitus and help your doctor determine whether a problem outside of the ears causes it.
Next, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor will examine your ears for any problems. This is usually done by a painless instrument called an otoscope that enables your ENT doctor to see inside the ear.
If your doctor believes a severe problem causes your tinnitus, they may order tests to help diagnose it. These can include a hearing test, a CT scan, MRI, or an X-ray. Your ENT will also look for other signs of hearing loss.
Treatment for Tinnitus
Depending on the cause of your tinnitus, your doctor may recommend a series of tests to determine what's causing it. These include a physical examination, hearing tests, and imaging scans (such as CT or MRI) to examine your ear structure.
Your GP can also suggest available treatments from your local otolaryngologist or audiologist. These treatment options range from sound therapy to counseling and other nonmedicinal approaches.
Some people find that tinnitus can be lessened or even eliminated by using certain types of medications. These include antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs that can help ease symptoms.
Another standard treatment option is tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). This involves using one-on-one counseling with a specialist and wearing an in-the-ear device that emits continuous low-level sounds to train your brain to ignore your tinnitus.
TRT is based on the idea that human brains are naturally good at habituating, or filtering out, many auditory signals -- sounds such as air conditioners, computer fans, refrigerators, and even a gentle rain.
Prevention
Getting regular hearing checkups with an audiologist will help prevent permanent damage to your ears and hearing, which could lead to tinnitus. This is especially important for older people with a family history of hearing loss or who are exposed to loud noise daily (e.g., from concerts or loud sporting events).
Wearing earplugs and over-the-ear hearing protection can protect your ears from damage when exposed to very high sound levels. This includes if you work in an environment where machinery is used, if you're a musician who plays at loud volumes, or if you have access to firearms.
If you have hearing loss, wearing hearing aids can also help amplify speech and environmental sounds, reducing the intensity of the ringing in your ears. This helps to lessen the impact of your tinnitus, says NYU Langone otolaryngologist and hearing expert Danielle Frank, MD.
Quitting smoking can also reduce your risk of developing tinnitus. This is because smokers are more likely to have blood vessel disorders that affect the blood flow to their ears, which can cause tinnitus.
Keeping your heart healthy with exercise and a balanced diet can help to keep blood vessels working properly. This can also reduce the use of certain medications that tend to worsen tinnitus, says otolaryngologist and hearing specialist Danielle Frank, MD.
The Final Words
Tinnitus is often considered a nuisance, but there are ways to manage it. It may be helpful to talk with your GP about your symptoms or to ask for advice from an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) or audiologist.
Keeping active, avoiding triggers, and managing stress can also help. You can try meditation, tinnitus retraining, cognitive behavioral, or other therapies to reduce distress and improve your quality of life.
You can also use hearing aids to help you cope with your tinnitus by distracting you from it. Hearing aids increase the volume of external sounds, so your brain processes them differently.
Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can also help protect your ears. This is especially important if you are working around loud machinery, hunting, or attending concerts because noise can damage your hearing and worsen your tinnitus.
A white noise machine, which produces a sound similar to static or environmental sounds, can also help distract you from your tinnitus. You can use these devices in a quiet room or at night to help you sleep.
You can also seek counseling with a licensed mental health professional, psychologist, or psychiatrist. This can be useful in reducing the impact of tinnitus on your life and treating other problems linked to tinnitus, such as depression and anxiety.
