What Causes Tinnitus in Children?

two little girls reading outside; tinnitus causes in children concept

The same things that cause tinnitus in adults also cause tinnitus in children.

The Boston Children's Hospital puts it this way:

"Tinnitus happens most commonly because neurons in the brain’s auditory pathways are sending signals that are not related to an actual sound source. In rare cases, tinnitus is a physical sound produced within the body by the musculoskeletal or circulatory system."

The possible causes include:

- impacted ear wax

- hearing loss

- damaging noise exposure

- concussion

- Lyme disease

- jaw and dental issues

- medications.

They add that: "Most cases of tinnitus in children do not have an obvious medical cause and are nothing to worry about. Tinnitus increases when a person is anxious about it or when a person stressed for other reasons."

The team at Atlanta Hearing Associates note that other potential causes include "circulatory problems [and] slow-growing tumors on nerves in the face and ears." It's good to remember that "...many children outgrow their tinnitus without intervention, so it may cease to be an issue."

If you do smoke, you should stop.

Not just for your own health, but also because second-hand smoke exposure can be a possible cause of your child's tinnitus, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. At the very least, take your habit outside and see if that helps.

The CHOP team notes that allergies in children -- and ear or sinus infections -- can also cause tinnitus, so be ready to report these to your family doctor if you suspect that your child has tinnitus.

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Comments

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