Tinnitus and Kids

A surprising amount of children have tinnitus.

The Boston Children's Hospital says about 15% have chronic tinnitus, while the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) says "one-third of children experience it at some point."

It's hard to know exactly how many children have tinnitus.

"In some cases," notes the staff at CHOP, "the child is too young to describe what they are hearing, has come to think of it as normal, or is not troubled by the experience enough to mention it."

The good thing about pediatric tinnitus is that most kids "have otherwise normal hearing and outgrow the symptoms before adulthood," according to the team at Children'sHealth.

If a child is adversely affected by tinnitus (and only about 0.5% of children have troublesome cases) parents usually see behavior issues like anxiety, depression and problems sleeping. School age kids can have difficult concentrating. Unfortunately, young children don't know to complain about the noise in their heads, or even how to describe those noises.

Parents who suspect tinnitus in their child should ask their pediatrician to perform a hearing test or refer them to an audiologist who can conduct other diagnostic tests to rule out tinnitus.

Before you think the worst, remember that one possible cause of tinnitus is wax build-up in the ear canal, which is easily remedied. If it's a medication that causes the tinnitus, that medication can be changed or discontinued. According to CHOP, "in most medication-induced cases, the tinnitus resolves over time."

Try Eargasm Earplus

Comments

Can Allergies Cause Tinnitus?

The short answer is: Yes, allergies can cause tinnitus. Hearing loss, too. Allergy-related tinnitus is typically due to the congestion that allergies cause. Anything from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) to sinus infections increases the risk of developing tinnitus. Basically anything that affects the nasal and sinus passages can lead to tinnitus. That's because when allergies affect the nasal passages and sinuses, they can cause inflammation and swelling, leading to congestion and pressure changes in the ear. This pressure change can lead to tinnitus. Allergy meds can be a problem too Tinnitus can also be a side effect of certain medications used to treat allergies, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin. These medications can potentially cause tinnitus as a side effect, especially when taken in high doses. Other causes of tinnitus In addition to allergies, there are several other causes of tinnitus. In some cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of an u...

Medications Can Worsen Tinnitus Symptoms

Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears. Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin. In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list ...

Try Saline When Your Hearing Is Muffled After Loud Noise Exposure

If you've got temporary hearing loss or tinnitus after being at a loud concert or sports event, you may be able to fix it -- if you act fast. A 2021 Keck Medicine of USC study published in Science Daily has found that the nerve damage to the inner ear caused by loud noises is basically a build up of fluids. Treating that "fluid buildup with a readily available saline solution lessened nerve damage in the inner ear." A previous study by the same otolaryngologist showed that inner ear fluid level is not affected until noises reach 100 decibels, which is how loud a motorcycle is. "When researchers applied hypertonic saline, a salt-based solution used to treat nasal congestions in humans, into affected ears one hour after the noise exposure, both the immediate fluid buildup and the long-term nerve damage lessened, implying that the hearing loss could be at least partially prevented." The benefits of this knowledge are twofold: 1. If fluid buildup can be measured, ...

Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

Search This Blog