Sinusitis is widespread and impacts millions of people annually. It can cause an array of symptoms such as nasal, sinus, and ear congestion, pain in the ears, and even new or worsening tinnitus. In this article, we will discuss how to treat sinusitis to reduce or prevent any unpleasant sounds of tinnitus or hearing loss you may experience due to sinus infections. It may seem that a sinus infection caused by a virus or bacteria is limited in its scope and ability to lead to tinnitus symptoms, but conditions affecting the inner and middle ear have the potential to be damaging to auditory systems.
How can sinus headaches and other sinusitis symptoms impact tinnitus? First, let’s take a look at the interconnected nature of the middle ear, the inner ear, and a swollen sinus cavity.
The Interconnected Systems of the Middle Ear, Inner Ear, and Sinus Cavities
Our ears and sinuses are intimately linked, meaning that changes in one will influence the other. Our middle ear is related to the back of our throat by way of a tube known as the eustachian tube. This tube assists with balancing air pressure and draining out fluids from behind the eardrum. Sinus infections impact all of these systems, and can lead to sinus congestion, ear pain, nasal obstruction, and more symptoms based primarily in the nasal cavity. However, inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages can put pressure on the eustachian tube – causing dysfunction of the ability of this tube to equalize air pressure and drain any fluid that may be building up in the middle ear.
Elsewhere inside our ears lies our organ for hearing and balance, which connects to our brain through the 8th cranial nerve, known as our auditory and vestibular nerve. Within our skull, there are numerous sacs, or cavities, filled up with air (termed “sinus”), which are lined with mucous membranes and connect to adjacent nasal cavities. These sacs impact hearing and when they are stressed or inflamed from sinusitis, people may suffer from temporary hearing loss, muffled hearing or plugged ears and other seemingly unrelated issues. As you can see, a sinus infection can be directly related to the incidence of changes to the middle ear space and hearing.
"Treble Health helped me reduce my tinnitus by about 80%, and now I can live my life again!"
"Treble Health helped me reduce my tinnitus by about 80%, and now I can live my life again!"
– Steve D.
Book a free consultation to learn which Treble Health solution is right for you. Join Steve and thousands more who have found lasting tinnitus relief.
A sinus infection and /or swelling caused by irritated sinuses due to allergies can cause sinuses to become congested, leaving the cavities filled with fluid and mucus. This leads to an increase in pressure within the sinuses and middle ear due to the pressure placed on the eustachian tube, that may result in pain, hearing loss, or even ringing ears. Unfortunately, if left untreated, it is possible for inflammation and accumulation of fluids to spread into the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss or general damage to your hearing. If symptoms progress for longer than a week or two, it is important to seek care from a health care provider. Sinus infections are common, but plugged ears have a greater impact on hearing health (and hearing loss) than many realize, making it important to take good care of not only your ears, but also your sinuses.
Understanding Tinnitus Caused by Sinusitis
Tinnitus, the abnormal perception of sound without an external source, affects millions and is attributable to a broad array of causes. A sinus infection can cause tinnitus or worsen tinnitus in those who already have it and may be the cause of either temporary or permanent hearing loss.
When the sinus cavities become swollen and filled with liquid, the symptoms of sinusitis can affect the circulatory system in nearby areas – such as your ears. This interruption to blood flow within the nasal passages may lead to a disruption of sound processing by the brain, which creates a sound similar to trilling or other high-pitched sounds. When the sinuses become blocked and the air is unable to flow through freely, blood and oxygen levels in the area may be affected, which can lead to alterations in how sounds are processed by our brains. This interruption can cause headaches associated with a sinus infection, but can also result in the frustrating sound of tinnitus.
In certain instances, inflammation can also cause pulsatile tinnitus, a hearing condition characterized by noises that beat along with your heart rate. The muffled hearing resulting from those experiencing eustachian tube dysfunction as a result of their sinus infection symptoms is another common reason for the onset of tinnitus symptoms with sinusitis. As the brain loses access to the expected input of sound, it becomes hyperactive in neuronal firing trying to recreate this missing sound therefore resulting in tinnitus for some. As the muffled hearing alleviates, the tinnitus generally does as well. However, in some cases this new tinnitus symptom can become permanent. If your tinnitus does not resolve with your sinusitis, the Team at Treble Health is here to help.
Nasal congestion is often one of the initial indicators of sinusitis, which involves inflammation of your sinuses. When these cavities become blocked and inflamed in sinus congestion, they can block off the eustachian tube, resulting in built-up pressure that brings about various tinnitus symptoms such as muffled hearing, hearing loss, a full feeling within the sinuses (including auditory nerves), or even excruciating pain. In more serious cases, the increase in pressure associated with a sinus infection may lead to tinnitus, sinus pressure, and ear pain.
Treating Sinusitis to Alleviate Ringing in the Ears
If you are looking for relief from the bothersome ringing in your ears associated with sinusitis, then treating a sinus infection is essential. The best way to address a sinus infection caused by bacterial infection is by utilizing antibiotics. Viral sources of a sinus infection can be addressed using decongestants when nasal swelling and congestion are present.
For more significant cases, balloon sinuplasty may be used as an effective procedure to remove any blockages created within the passages of your sinuses and relieve sinus congestion and blockage of the nasal passages. Discuss treatment options, including hearing aids, balloon sinuplasty, and even simple decongestants with a healthcare provider to determine which is best to treat sinusitis, associated facial pain, hearing changes, or any other form of infection in which patients experience changes to optimal function of the nose or hearing.
Tinnitus Relief
From hearing aids to largely experimental treatments and medical treatment, tinnitus can be successfully addressed. The condition itself can come about as a result of a number of conditions, including sinusitis, but tinnitus treatment is far from impossible, starting with an accurate diagnosis. Although sinusitis treatment can help clear some of the sounds in a patient’s head, tinnitus treatment options will vary according to the root cause of the issue, which can begin with sinus damage or infection and grow following that illness.
Our Treble Health audiologists are well-versed in what patients are going through as they experiencing tinnitus, and have years of experience delivering effective treatment modalities. Our audiology team is here to help get to the root of any underlying condition or cause of tinnitus, to help you achieve your best hearing health yet. Schedule a complimentary telehealth consultation with our team today to address symptoms and experience lasting relief.
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