Information On Tinnitus

I have tinnitus…now what?

Tinnitus is a condition shared by over 15% of all Americans, so the first thing you should know is that you’re definitely not alone. And while we have yet to come up with an actual cure for tinnitus, there many treatments that have been shown to significantly reduce the awareness that typically comes with it.

But first, exactly what is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is defined as a condition in which you hear a sound or sounds that others don’t experience. Most commonly this is experienced as a ringing, high-pitched, in one or both ears. However, there is a broad range of sounds that people with tinnitus may experience, including roaring or hissing, clicking or buzzing, or even music.

On occasion, tinnitus can actually be caused by sounds that others can hear, just not under normal circumstances. In these cases the subject might hear their own blood pumping around their body, or the sounds of their joints or tendons as they move. But again, this is very rare, affecting only around 1% of all cases.

What causes tinnitus?

There are over 200 disorders that can create tinnitus as a symptom, but most commonly it is caused by some sort of damage or change to the auditory system. This may simply be age-related hearing loss, or it may be noise-related hearing loss. It can also be caused by obstructions or damage to the middle ear or changes to the bones of the inner ear (this is usually a genetic tendency). In any of these cases where the body’s ability to hear properly is interrupted, we theorize that the brain actually tries to compensate by creating a sound or range of sounds which it no longer receives.

Some of the many other disorders which can cause tinnitus (either temporarily or permanently) include:

• Head and/or neck trauma
• TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
• Sinus pressure
• Some prescription medications
• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) • High Blood Pressure
• Hypo-/Hyperthyroidism
• Meniere’s Disease

A more complete list can be viewed at the website of the American Tinnitus Association:
https://ata.org

What can be done to treat tinnitus?

While there is no scientifically-proven cure for tinnitus, there are many things that an audiologist can do to lessen the awareness of the noise and the aggravation that typically goes along with it. The first thing they will do is a hearing examination which will determine any hearing loss you may have, and then they will proceed to tests to diagnose and define the tinnitus you are experiencing. These will include tests to define the range of sound, such as tinnitus sound matching (during which they will play a range of different sounds to try to determine exactly the pitch(es) you are hearing), and the perceived volume (most commonly by using minimal masking level testing, which aims to find the minimum volume of an external sound that can cover the perceived sound of the tinnitus). They may also test to find the level of noise you can tolerate without discomfort in order to try to determine what treatment methods are feasible, and will probably question you about your experience living with tinnitus, in order to determine how much intervention is needed to allow you to live a comfortable life.

Some of the treatment options your audiologist may propose include hearing aids (if hearing loss is present); devices that emit white noise to mask the sound of the tinnitus; habituation therapy (where a device is used to emit a pitch that may eventually trick your brain into ignoring the sound of the tinnitus as unimportant); behavioral therapy (to help you control your reaction to the sound, as stress can often worsen the perceived volume); hypnotherapy; hearing protection (such as ear muffs or ear plugs); and general lifestyle changes to increase your overall health. A multidisciplinary approach is often helpful, involving your primary care physician, a psychologist, and other professionals.

Am I Overreacting about all this?

No, absolutely not! Tinnitus can be extremely taxing, gradually wearing down your reserves and impacting your life in significant ways. Many people diagnosed with tinnitus experience stress, anger, or depression as they try to deal with the constant frustration it causes. It can lead to insomnia, which itself can have a significant impact on your wellbeing. It can also affect your ability to concentrate (a problem for anyone, but a huge problem in certain professions), lead to mood swings and anxiety, and have a negative impact on your social life and hobbies.

If you suffer from tinnitus, do get help. Along with treatments your audiologist may be able to offer, there are support groups in many areas and online which can help you feel less isolated and may offer tips and tricks from others living with the condition. A listing of support groups can be found here: https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/support-network