Every person who cares about their health knows: extraneous tinnitus does not appear just like that. If one ear suddenly starts to make noise or a sound similar to a rumble arises from both sides at once, you should think: what is it connected with? Ear noise is quite common. Thousands of patients around the world have complained about this symptom. Statistical data may be inaccurate, since not all patients seek medical help due to its inaccessibility or preliminary confidence in the negative result of treatment. However, it is necessary to find out why the hum in the ears occurs as soon as possible from the moment of its appearance - this symptom often accompanies a progressive decrease in hearing acuity.
Causes
A person needs normal hearing for productive work and good rest. It is required to ensure your own safety and the safety of loved ones - to hear the signal of an approaching car, the crack of a falling branch and other sounds that may indicate a threat. Any extraneous noises, especially if they reach only the patient's ears and are not heard by others, can be a pathological sign. The causes of hum in the ears are different, among them are:
- Hearing loss of the sensorineural type.
- Conductive and mixed hearing loss.
- Inflammatory lesions of the structures of the organ of hearing.
- Hypertension.
- Cerebral atherosclerosis.
- Injuries, degenerative processes in the bone and muscle structures of the neck.
- Tumor of the posterior cranial fossa and tumors of other localization.
- Occupational hearing loss.
The causes and treatment of tinnitus are of interest to both patients and researchers. The list contains a large number of pathologies that can provoke the appearance of ear noise. Some of them are described in more detail in other articles presented on the site. In this material, it is advisable to discuss the causes of hum in the ear associated with exposure to noise as a harmful occupational factor.
The development of occupational hearing loss causes regular exposure to noise in the workplace.
The rapid development of industry, the emergence of new types of transport - in particular, trains and airplanes - 
caused the emergence of new diseases. The defeat of noise exposure has been known to specialists for a long time, however, the study of the issues of causes and prevention is still ongoing. Occupational diseases associated with noise exposure represent a large group of pathologies, the diagnosis and treatment of which are carried out by occupational pathologists. If necessary, specialists of other profiles are involved in the examination and treatment of the patient.
Occupational hearing loss
The causes of hum in the left ear or on the right side are noise effects, which have a damaging effect on the structures of the sound-receiving system of the auditory analyzer. The development of occupational cochlear neuritis can be observed in such categories of workers as:
- employees of metallurgical enterprises who are constantly near steel-making furnaces;
- employees of enterprises of the gas and oil industries, who are engaged in the location of air and reciprocating compressors, ventilation units, pipelines;
- employees of enterprises of the mining and construction industry who work next to compressors, diesel and ventilation units, vibration platforms;
- employees employed on sea and river vessels - especially in energy departments;
- aircraft maintenance personnel - especially when testing engines and other device components;
- civil aviation pilots;
- drivers of heavy trucks, passenger buses;
- railway employees working on diesel and electric locomotives;
- cosmodrome employees.
This is an incomplete list of occupations associated with constant or intermittent harmful effects of noise. At risk are miners, miners, locksmiths, blacksmiths, boiler workers, cutters, leaf makers. A relatively new type of occupational noise sickness is the development of pathology in people whose work is related to the entertainment industry, constant exposure to high noise levels, and wearing headphones. An example is the work of a DJ or musician at events.
Compliance with the rules for the prevention of hearing loss is of great importance - for example, the use of special headphones, the introduction of additional rest breaks during working hours. Failure to follow the safety instructions creates a high likelihood of hearing loss.
Finding out the causes of hum in the ear and head, treatment should be prescribed as soon as possible. All workers who, by the nature of their professional activities, are exposed to noise, must undergo a routine medical examination in order to identify pathological changes in the organ of hearing.
The study of the etiology of the development of cochlear neuritis in civil aviation pilots suggests that the following harmful factors are of prime importance:
- High levels of aircraft noise.
- Increased vibration.
- High level of neuro-emotional stress.
Pilots in the cockpit are influenced not only by extraneous noises from the engine, air conditioning system and other equipment, but also by the noises that occur while listening to the dispatcher's radio messages in the headphones.
Complaints about tinnitus in workers of various professions are classified as cochlear symptoms. They indicate damage to the auditory nerve and cochlea (the part of the inner ear, the functional task of which is the perception and recognition of sounds).
Prolonged exposure to noise leads to microtraumatization of the auditory nerve.
This does not include cases associated with a single exposure to extremely high levels of noise and vibration. For occupational pathology, constant, often long-term exposure to environmental noise in the workplace is important. The hum is caused by dystrophic and neurovascular changes in the area of the organ of Corti (the receptor section of the auditory analyzer).
The increased noise load adversely affects all structures of the hearing organ. The higher the level of noise and vibration, the faster the disorders develop and the more severe the clinical manifestations are. Because the ear is able to adapt to sound effects, it may not show clear symptoms for a long time. However, there is fatigue of the structures that represent the organ of Corti, with a subsequent change in biochemical processes. Dystrophy is noted first, then necrosis. Necrotic changes in the organ of Corti and the spiral ganglion are detected in many patients who consulted an otolaryngologist with complaints of a constant hum in the left ear. The causes and treatment of tinnitus in this case should be related to the patient's professional activity.
Treatment tactics
In order to achieve successful results of therapy, it is necessary to take into account all the changes detected during the examination, as well as concomitant pathologies. An individual approach is key, since treatment should be aimed at correcting the manifestations in a particular patient.
The main activities are:
- cessation of exposure to noise;
- the use of drug therapy;
- the use of physiotherapy.
The patient should be under the supervision of an audiologist. An important question is the possibility of continuing to work.
The patient needs to understand that contact with noise upon detection of the fact of progressive hearing loss cannot be mitigated by any means of protection (headphones, ear plugs, etc.).
Medication and physiotherapy give only a temporary effect, which can be called full only in the absence of noise exposure. If the damaging effect of this factor persists, hearing continues to fall, and the patient risks facing complete deafness. It should also be remembered that in occupational sensorineural hearing loss, mainly bilateral damage is observed, and changes in the late stage are irreversible. Therefore, one of the ways to improve the quality of life of a patient with occupational hearing loss is rational employment after undergoing treatment under the supervision of a specialist audiologist.
Therapy regimen
It is possible to choose the appropriate treatment only in person, however, it is worth mentioning the drugs and methods used in the treatment of occupational hearing loss:
- Anticholinesterase agents (Proserin, Neuromidin).
- Drugs that improve cerebral circulation (Cavinton).
- Vitamins (Pyridoxine, Thiamin, Retinol, etc.).
- Biostimulants (Aloe extract).
- Endaural electrophoresis of 5% solution of potassium iodide, niacin.
- Acupuncture.
- Magnetotherapy.
The patient can be recommended spa treatment with a course of balneotherapy (treatment with mineral waters, which are used not only for drinking, but also for various procedures).
Some patients require hearing aids to correct their hearing loss.
Choosing the right hearing aids can eliminate or reduce the severity of noise. The causes and treatment of hum in the right ear and on the left side should be determined by the doctor observing the patient, who recommends the necessary examination methods and the type of apparatus.
