What is brain tinnitus?

Brain tinnitus refers to the perception of various types of sounds in the brain without external auditory stimuli, commonly resembling cicada chirping, roaring, buzzing, electric currents, insect sounds, train noises, or others.

What causes brain tinnitus?

There are numerous causes of brain tinnitus, which can be broadly categorized into organic and functional types:

The former refers to symptoms caused by conditions such as anemia, hypertension, hypotension, cerebrovascular diseases, heart diseases, ear disorders, or intracranial space-occupying lesions, often accompanied by other manifestations.

The latter refers to brain tinnitus symptoms related to fatigue, excessive mental or visual strain, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, or neurasthenia.

Who is commonly affected by brain tinnitus?

It can occur in all age groups but is more prevalent among middle-aged and elderly individuals.

What are the main symptoms of brain tinnitus?

Brain tinnitus involves perceiving various sounds in the brain without external stimuli, such as cicada chirping, roaring, buzzing, insect sounds, train noises, or others, with varying pitch levels. Symptoms are often persistent but may also be intermittent, typically more noticeable in quiet environments, such as at night when preparing to rest, and may sometimes disrupt sleep.

Brain tinnitus may coexist with ear tinnitus and, depending on the cause, may be accompanied by other symptoms like episodic dizziness, fatigue, or chest tightness.

Which department should I visit for brain tinnitus?

Neurology.

How is brain tinnitus diagnosed?

The diagnosis is primarily based on symptom descriptions, with further clinical screening for underlying causes, such as blood tests to rule out anemia, blood pressure monitoring to exclude hypertension or hypotension, brain and cerebrovascular imaging to detect intracranial abnormalities, and, if necessary, ear or cardiac examinations.

How is brain tinnitus treated?

Treatment mainly targets the underlying cause. For brain tinnitus due to anemia, blood pressure issues, or cerebrovascular diseases, the focus is on correcting anemia, controlling blood pressure, or treating cerebrovascular conditions.

For functional-related brain tinnitus, lifestyle adjustments are key, including improving sleep patterns and quality, regulating emotions, increasing physical activity, avoiding excessive mental or visual strain, and reducing electronic device usage. Medications like flunarizine capsules may help relieve vascular spasms, while some traditional Chinese medicines, acupuncture, or physical therapy may also provide adjunctive benefits.

What is the prognosis for brain tinnitus?

The prognosis largely depends on the underlying cause, with most cases having a favorable outcome.

How can brain tinnitus be prevented?

Brain tinnitus is closely related to lifestyle. Maintaining regular routines, a positive mood, good sleep quality, avoiding excessive mental or visual strain, exercising regularly, adopting healthy dietary habits, and quitting smoking or limiting alcohol can help prevent functional-related brain tinnitus and may also reduce the risk of some organic causes.