Is My Tinnitus Inherited?

Woman grimacing with hand on the left side of her head suffering from tinnitus

Are you going crazy with that tinnitus in your ears? Learn whether your tinnitus is inherited or what the cause might be.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the term referring to a person’s perception of a ringing, droning, or buzzing in the ear with no external stimulus present to explain this experience. The direct translation of the term tinnitus is”ringing like a bell”.”

How will tinnitus affect my daily living?

Tinnitus can be aggravating and can disrupt intimate interactions. It’s normally an indication that you have damaged hearing or some underlying health condition and not a disease in and of itself. You may hear tinnitus in one ear or both ears and it can impede your ability to focus.

Tinnitus is always disruptive regardless of how it’s manifesting. Sleep loss, anxiety, and even depression can also be triggered by tinnitus symptoms.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be long lasting or it can come and go. Short term varieties of tinnitus are normally caused by extended exposure to loud noises, like a rock concert. Tinnitus has been documented to manifest with a few different medical conditions.

Here are several situations that generally go along with tinnitus:

  • Inner ear cell damage and irritation of the sensitive hairs used to conduct sound, causing arbitrary transmissions of sound to your brain
  • Various medications
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Bruxism, more commonly known as teeth grinding stemming from temporomandibular joint problems, or TMJ disorder
  • Meniere’s Disease
  • Buildup of excessive earwax
  • Acoustic neuroma where a benign tumor forms on the cranial nerve going from the inner ear to the brain
  • Hearing impairment related to aging
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Inner ear infections
  • The ear bone has undergone changes
  • Exposure to loud noise for prolonged time periods
  • Injuries that impact nerves of the ear

Is it possible that my parents may have passed down the ringing in my ears?

In general, tinnitus isn’t an inherited condition. However, your genetics can play a part in this symptom. For example, ear bone changes that can result in tinnitus can be passed down. Abnormal bone growth can cause these changes and can be handed down through genetics. A few of the other conditions that can result in ringing in the ear could be passed down from your parents, including:

  • Being predisposed to depression or anxiety
  • Being prone to inner ear infections or wax build-up
  • Certain diseases

You can’t directly inherit tinnitus, but there are conditions that become breeding grounds for tinnitus which you may have inherited.

If you have a history of tinnitus in your family, it’s truly in your best interest to schedule an appointment with us so we can assess your hearing.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.