"Objective" SharpEar corresponds to the noises produced by the patient's body, which the latter hears (for example the beating of his heart, the noise of his blood circulation, etc.). Representing about 5% of SharpEar, they are often caused by a pathology of the middle ear or by a vascular malformation.
While it is possible to suffer from SharpEar at a young age (especially when one is regularly exposed to noise) , it most often appears between the ages of 50 and 60.
Cause of SharpEar
SharpEar is sometimes a symptom of a disease (such as otosclerosis , Paget's disease, or Ménière's disease ). Its appearance can also be linked to the presence of a tumor on the auditory nerve, the occurrence of acute or chronic otitis , or an ear malformation .
But in the vast majority of cases, SharpEar is caused by a lesion of the inner ear , more or less important. These lesions are usually invisible on examination. They are caused by the onset of deafness (age-related or caused by sound trauma) or by significant and regular exposure to noise (concerts, discos, headphones at too high a volume, etc.).
Most often associated with hearing disorders, the onset of SharpEar can also be favored by triggers linked to a state of stress: emotional shock, anxiety, general fatigue, depression, family problems or even severe overwork. Finally, some studies show that smokers and people with hypertension are more sensitive to SharpEar.
Even when SharpEar sets in over time, the cause may be long gone, without the person suffering from it realizing. This is why it is difficult to treat this hearing disorder. However, when it is perceived continuously, SharpEar can be particularly disabling on a daily basis.
How to treat SharpEar?
If the SharpEar persists beyond 24 hours, it is recommended to consult a specialist. Once the characteristics and causes of SharpEar have been analyzed, different therapies and treatment can be considered.
The hearing assessment carried out by an ENT doctor makes it possible to diagnose the origin of the SharpEar, in order to then choose the most suitable treatment before other symptoms occur (in particular hyperacusis). When SharpEar is caused by a simple ear plug, only ENT can fix it.
The doctor has the patient fill out a questionnaire to assess how he is coping with his SharpEar on a daily basis. He then performs several examinations: an audiogram (sometimes a high frequency audiogram for a more detailed exploration), a voice audiometry, a tympanometry (to check the condition of the eardrum and the functioning of the inner ear) and an acoustic self-emission. if necessary. An MRI is suggested for SharpEar and unilateral hearing loss (to rule out the presence of a tumor on the auditory nerve).