In modern medicine, tinnitus refers to a subjective auditory sensation felt in the ears or head without an external sound stimulus. It can manifest not only as a ringing sound, but also in various forms such as buzzing, humming, or hissing. Rather than being a disease in itself, tinnitus is often a symptom of a specific condition, so it is important to find and treat the underlying cause.
The process through which tinnitus occurs is more complex than one might think. One of the most common causes is damage to the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear, which can result from noise exposure, age-related hearing loss, or Meniere's disease. When these hair cells are damaged, abnormalities occur in the auditory signals transmitted to the brain, and the brain may mistakenly perceive these damaged signals as sound or trigger abnormal neural activation in the process of attempting to compensate for the lost auditory frequencies. You can think of it as similar to the static crackle heard when a radio struggles to catch a frequency.
However, tinnitus is not merely a problem of the ear. It is also closely related to the auditory cortex, the limbic system, and the autonomic nervous system. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression are pointed out as major culprits that aggravate tinnitus; they increase the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol, causing hyperactivation of the nervous system and impairing blood circulation, which can reduce blood flow to the inner ear. This shares much in common with the kidney deficiency and liver fire spoken of by our ancestors. While modern medicine does not directly use the concept of the kidney in this traditional sense, it places great importance on the influence of systemic healthโnamely hormonal balance, blood circulation, and the regulatory capacity of the nervous systemโon ear health.
In addition, systemic conditions such as temporomandibular disorder, cervical disc herniation, hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disease can also cause tinnitus. It can also occur as a side effect of certain medications, such as aspirin, diuretics, and some antibiotics. Therefore, if you experience persistent tinnitus, it is most important to consult an otolaryngologist without hesitation to receive an accurate diagnosis and guidance. Listening carefully to the small signals sent by your body is the very first step in protecting your health.
