Appalachian Audiology

Risk Factors for Tinnitus

There are multiple risk factors that can contribute to the potential onset of tinnitus. These risk factors include: Age related hearing loss Constant exposure to loud noise Consistent middle ear or sinus infections Constricted or poor blood flow due to atherosclerosis and/or kinking in the carotid artery or jugular vein History of migraine headaches Before deciding on a course of treatment, a clinical audiologist must first look for any potential contributing factors to the onset and presence of a patient's particular type of tinnitus. A thorough history and lifestyle evaluation must be completed. In many cases, lab work is essential to investigate various potential or contributing factors like salt intake, very high or very low blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.