Q I heard there are different types of tinnitus. Do the causes differ depending on the type of sound?
A Yes. High-pitched ringing is linked to noise-induced or age-related hearing loss, low buzzing to Meniere's disease or phlegm-retention, and pulsatile tinnitus that throbs with your heartbeat to vascular abnormalities or high blood pressure. The character of the sound is a clue for identifying the cause.
Detailed Answer
The type of tinnitus sound is an important clue in determining the cause. Sharp high-pitched tones (ringing, screeching) are common in noise exposure or age-related hearing loss, while low buzzing or ocean-like sounds are associated with Meniere's disease (endolymphatic hydrops) or eustachian tube dysfunction. Pulsatile tinnitus, heard throbbing or surging in time with your heartbeat, may be caused by vascular issues such as vascular malformations, high blood pressure, or carotid artery stenosis, and requires separate evaluation. If it persists in only one ear or is accompanied by progressive hearing loss, detailed examination is recommended.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, too, the pitch of the tinnitus sound and when it worsens are considered important. If the sound is low and decreases with rest, it is diagnosed as Kidney-Deficiency (sinheo) or deficiency of both qi and blood; if the sound is high and grows with emotional stimulation or stress, it is diagnosed as Liver-Fire (ganhwa) or Phlegm-Fire (damhwa) from rising heat. At Dongjedang's craniofacial clinic in Dong-gu, Incheon, prescriptions and acupuncture points are composed differently according to these diagnostic distinctions.
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