Do you think you hear sound when none is present? Does it sound like there’s a constant buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing or clicking noise in your ears? If so, you might be experiencing tinnitus, or “ringing in the ears.”
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is an audiological and neurological condition that affects nearly 15 percent of people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Simply put, tinnitus is a sign of damage to the ear. It signals a disruption in how sound is transmitted and processed in the brain.
These annoying sounds can get in the way of every day life, making it difficult to hear or allow the person to focus, but they can also cause more severe health issues if left untreated.
Tinnitus Symptoms
In most cases only the person who has tinnitus is the only one who can hear the noise.
These so-called “phantom noises” can vary in pitch and can be heard in one or both ears. People with tinnitus might hear a variety of sounds, including humming, roaring or even music. Some people may even hear multiple sounds.
Measuring Tinnitus
Even though tinnitus is generally subjective, there are ways to diagnose and measure it. For example, audiologists can perform a hearing tests to determine the specific gaps in hearing. This hearing loss often correlates to the nature and quality of that patient’s tinnitus.
An audiologist will likely use a supplemental set of tests to measure the patient’s perception of tinnitus sound, pitch and volume. There are also tests to gauge the impact of tinnitus on one’s daily life.
How long does tinnitus last?
Tinnitus can be a constant presence or intermittent.
Pay attention to your ears after you attend a loud concert, listen to loud music too long, or if you experience other loud sounds. If you experience ringing in the ears for even a small amount of time, it could be a warning sign of hearing damage.
It’s important always wear hearing protection when you’re around loud noises, and give your ears a rest if you experience loud noises for prolonged periods of time.
Types of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is usually classified as either subjective or objective.
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Subjective Tinnitus
More than 99 percent of all reported tinnitus cases are subjective, which means the noises are only perceived by the patient. The person might hear a continuous or overlapping sound with different frequencies and volume.
Objective Tinnitus
Objective tinnitus is when the noises are heard by other people in addition to the patient. These sounds are usually produced internally due to the body’s blood flow and musculoskeletal movement systems.
What does tinnitus sound like?
The sound of tinnitus is most commonly described as “ringing in the ears.” However, it can also be perceived as a buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing or clicking sound.
To better understand what tinnitus sounds like, the American Tinnitus Association has compiled a playlist of the most common sounds.
Technically, there are three ways to describe how patients experience these sounds:
Tonal Tinnitus
Near-continuous sound or overlapping sounds with well-defined frequencies. The volume often fluctuates. This is generally associated with subjective tinnitus.
Pulsatile Tinnitus
Pulsing sounds, often in sync with the patient’s heartbeat.
Musical Tinnitus
Music or singing, sometimes the same tune on a constant loop. This is also known as “Musical Ear Syndrome” and is very rare.
Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is often caused by noise-induced hearing loss but there are other common causes:
- Earwax blocking the ear canal
- Age-related hearing loss
- Acoustic trauma, which means sudden exposure to loud noises (firecrackers, gunshot, emergency alarm, loud speakers at a concert)
- Ototoxic drugs that damage the ear
- Head injury
- Stress
Certain demographic groups appear to be more susceptible to tinnitus. This includes males, older populations and Caucasians. High-risk groups include senior citizens, with about 30 percent experiencing symptoms. The age groups at risk for tinnitus peaks at 60-69, likely due to age-related hearing loss as well as accumulative noise-induced hearing loss. After age 69, incidents of tinnitus appear to decrease.
Other high-risk groups include active military personnel and veterans because of their exposure to loud noises. Hearing loss is the leading service-related disability among U.S. veterans.
People employed in loud workplace environments, musicians and music lovers, motorsports and hunting enthusiasts are also at risk. This is yet another reason to beware of loud noises and protect your hearing as much as possible.
One last high-risk category involves people with a prior behavioural health issue. People with a history of depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder may be prone to tinnitus, and these health issues tend to exacerbate symptoms.
The dangers of tinnitus
The experience of ringing in your ear can be more than a burden. An estimated 48-78 percent of people with severe tinnitus also have depression, anxiety, or other behavioral disorders. In severe cases, this can lead to suicide, according to the Hearing Health Foundation.
Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment
If you think you have tinnitus, the first step is to see an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) to rule out other medical issues. Your physician might advise you to see an audiologist to have your hearing checked. Ideally, visit an audiologist who has been trained in tinnitus management.
Because most people with tinnitus have some hearing loss, determining your baseline hearing is important. Unfortunately, there isn’t a proven cure for most cases of tinnitus. The good news is there are a lot of tools to help manage the condition. It’s important to remember that every case is different. One option might be more successful for you than for someone else or vice versa.
Natural Treatments
Diet
Improving your general well-being may help alleviate your symptoms. A healthy diet is an example. If you have tinnitus and Meniere’s Disease, a low-salt diet may be worth exploring. It might also be worth taking a look at how much caffeine you consume. If certain foods and drinks make your symptoms worse, you can consider changing the amount you consume.
Talk to your doctor about your diet and the foods that affect hearing.
Exercise
Exercising regularly reduces stress, which is known to exacerbate tinnitus. Some recreational activities and hobbies may actually help distract from the tinnitus.
Relaxation
Other relaxation techniques sometimes referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy could help. Hypnotherapy may be another option.
Sound Therapies
There are several therapies to mask tinnitus, which include:
Masker
A masker uses external noise to cover the sound of tinnitus. Try any sound producing device. Think personal media players, computers, radio, TV, or electric fans.
Distraction
Diverting attention from the sound by distraction can help people forget about their tinnitus. Something as simple as going for a walk in nature, meditating or spending quite time reading a book might help distract people from their tinnitus.
Habituation
is the process to help the patient’s brain reclassify tinnitus as an unimportant sound that can be ignored. Work with a health care professional to receive this therapy.
Neuromodulation
is the act of using specialised sound to minimise the neural hyperactivity thought to be the underlying cause of tinnitus. Some of these are also fall in the category of tinnitus retraining therapy.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Hearing aids help with tinnitus because they can be programmed to help mask the sound of tinnitus. Furthermore, they can increase the external volume to better hear over the sound of tinnitus. Read more: How my hearing aids helped my tinnitus
This article is at https://www.hearinglikeme.com/tinnitus/