A car accident can lead to many health conditions. Some of these conditions are minor while others are severe. One of the minor damages that can occur after a car accident is a strange ringing in the ear without any external noise source. This condition is known as tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a condition that makes one hear noise or sounds in the ear without any trace to an outside source. It can be a whooshing, ringing, clicking, or hissing sound. The condition happens when there is an interruption of normal ear function usually as a result of car accidents or other serious accidents.
In some cases, it may be difficult to diagnose tinnitus after car accidents because it is not detected in emergency rooms. The diagnosis of this condition is based on the signs and symptoms which does not start until after some days.
Usually, the preliminary medical attention one receives after an accident is centered around physical injuries and running scans to make sure that there are no damages or internal bleeding in any organ. Less attention is paid to the ear except it is bleeding.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
Noise in the Ear
When you start hearing external sounds that you can’t trace to any source some days after an accident, you are experiencing this condition. When this happens, you need to check-in for proper medical treatment to prevent an escalation to more severe ear conditions.
Hearing Loss
This could be partial or complete hearing loss. If you find it difficult to hear sounds or it seems to you that the sound is coming from a distance when it is close to you, you are experiencing tinnitus. Usually, it starts with partial hearing loss before it degenerates to a total loss. It is always recommended that you check-in for treatment early to prevent any escalation.
Nasal Congestion
Congestion happens when the nose becomes inflamed or stuffed up. When the ear is affected by any health challenge, the nose becomes inflamed and you start having a blocked sensation in your ear.
Ear Pain or Ache
If you experience ear pain after a car accident, go for a medical checkup to ascertain the cause of the pain and to receive treatment.
Difficulty with Concentration
If you find it difficult to concentrate when listening to someone especially after a car accident, you may be experiencing tinnitus. The ideal step to take is to check-in for treatment immediately you notice this symptom.
Insomnia
When a body organ is experiencing health challenges, it is usually difficult to sleep. If the ear is experiencing tinnitus, you will find it difficult to rest or sleep. If you experience difficulty with sleeping and you are looking for tips to help you, you can check here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/10-tips-to-beat-insomnia/
Accidents with Risks of Tinnitus
The following are types of accidents that can cause tinnitus:
Head-on Collisions
This happens when two cars coming from opposite directions crash into each other. Head-on collisions are known to cause severe damage to the drivers and passengers of the cars affected. It is tagged as a deadly accident because of its fatality rate.
When this type of accident happens, the body is pushed forward and this continues until one hits a part of the vehicle, seatbelt, or airbag. This unexpected movement is known to cause damage to the body in diverse ways.
Some of the effects of head-on collisions include broken ribcage, a fracturing of the collar bone, brain injury, torn muscles, lung collapse, and spinal injuries. Accident Attorneys can help you deal with the financial and medical bills but dealing with tennitis can be maddening if you don't recognize and treat the problem.
T-bone Accident
This type of accident occurs when the frontal of a car bumps into another car’s side creating a letter T shape. T-bone accidents commonly happen at intersections especially when a driver decides to beat the stop sign in a bid to drive through an intersection.
The impact of this type of accident is usually more severe than what is obtainable with fender accidents. Injuries sustained during this accident include whiplash, concussion, broken bones, paralysis, and spinal cord injury.
Rollover Accident
This type of accident happens when a car tips over onto the side or rolls over until it turns upside down. This type of accident is rare and it can either involve one or multiple cars. It is usually caused by speeding, drunk driving, insufficient tire grip, or overloaded vehicle.
Some of the common injuries sustained in this type include lacerations, internal injuries, neck injuries, fractures, whiplash injuries, and spinal injuries.
Rear-end Accident
This type happens when a car hits another one right in front of it. It is often caused by distraction on the part of the driver. It can also be caused by brake failure, wet weather, or worn pavement.
Common injuries associated with it include brain and skull injuries, fractured ribs, broken bones, neck, facial, spinal, and back injuries.
Causes of Tinnitus
The following are some causes of tinnitus that one experiences after a car accident:
Airbag Deployment
The deployment of airbags when a car accident occurs causes a sudden exposure to very loud noise and this can cause tinnitus. This is because the airbag generates higher noise than what the ear is used to.
Blunt Trauma To The Head and Brain
This type of injury happens when the head is exposed to external forces such as a jolt or blow which disrupts normal brain functioning.
When accidents occur, the sudden push of the head towards the airbag or steering wheel affects brain functionality. When tinnitus occurs as a result of brain injury, it leads to changes in speech pattern, disorientation, memory loss, and difficulty in concentration.
Whiplash
This is a neck injury that is occasioned by a forceful and rapid neck movement similar to whip’s cracking. It is a common injury sustained in accidents that are nonfatal.
These are some important tips about tinnitus that you may need to know. You can search the internet if you need more tips. Additionally, if you need tips on how to avoid car accidents, you can check here.
Conclusion
Tinnitus is a medical condition that can be treated especially when the symptoms are detected early. It is recommended that you visit a medical facility after a car accident to have all your organs checked regardless of how mild you think the accident was. We have discussed some helpful tips about tinnitus in this article. Please feel free to check them out.
