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Tinnitus is a condition that affects many people. Are you hearing ringing in your ear? It can be described as a ringing in the ears, but it can also take other forms such as buzzing, hissing, or whistling. I’m Dr. Amy, a Doctor of Audiology and expert on hearing loss and tinnitus. For some people, it is only an occasional annoyance. For others, it can be quite debilitating. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from tinnitus, don’t worry – there are ways to deal with it! In this article, we will discuss what tinnitus is, its causes and symptoms, and how to manage it effectively.
Note: this post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.
What is tinnitus?
Subjective tinnitus is a “phantom” auditory sound that is not caused by an external source. The sound of tinnitus is different for everyone. The sounds of tinnitus can be likened to whistling, humming, whooshing, buzzing, crickets, ringing, roaring, or other sounds. The sound may be present constantly or intermittently.
In rare cases, there have been instances of objective tinnitus. This is a situation when the ear emits sounds that can be objectively noticed or measured by others.
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Is tinnitus an illness?
Are there symptoms of tinnitus? On its own, tinnitus is a symptom and not an illness. It can be stem from many different reasons. For many, tinnitus is a symptom of a damaged auditory system, for example from loud music, and can be exacerbated by stress. For some people, tinnitus is only temporary and will go away on its own. For others, it can be a chronic condition that lasts for years. There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to manage it and minimize its impact on your life.
An audiologist’s review of Phonak Lyric hearing aids
Pulsatile tinnitus is another variation, which should be explored in more detail. Sometimes tinnitus pulsatile sound can mimic or follow heartbeat or a rhythmic pattern. It may be related to blood vessels in the head. High blood pressure may also contribute to a pulsatile sound when it is possible to hear blood flow. A doctor may wish to evaluate in more detail with further testing to rule out certain contains.
What causes tinnitus?
The cause of tinnitus is different for everyone. Causes can include exposure to loud noise, age-related hearing loss, earwax buildup, and certain medical conditions. Medications come with side effects, and tinnitus can also be a side effect of some medications.
Common causes of tinnitus? The exact cause of is often unknown. However, hearing loss and tinnitus are often related and in many cases noise induced hearing loss or inner ear hearing damage is related to the presence of tinnitus in one or both ears.
Where does it come from?
Research in the world of tinnitus is evolving. What we do know so far is that neural circuits in the auditory cortex are to blame for the source. Although it seems virtually invisible from the outside, there is actually a lot going on in the brain. Sometimes a sound match can help to alter and diffuse this spontaneous activity in the brain.
However, there are some instances when tinnitus is related to an underlying condition and has a specific cause. For example, some common symptoms of acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor on the auditory nerve). A physical examination as well as MRI scans are necessary to diagnose this condition.
A head injury can also sometimes result in changes to brain or damage to the ear. Some report onset of tinnitus following concussion. Licensed hearing professionals can help with treatment and management of auditory symptoms, but you should seek a medical professional regarding head or neck trauma, concussion, or other medical etiologies.
How does it impact quality of life?
Tinnitus can have a significant impact on your quality of life. It can cause sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression. It can make it difficult to hear. In severe cases, tinnitus can be disabling.
Bothersome tinnitus causes a lot of distress. It is helpful to get a clear understanding of which areas of your life are affected to what degree. For example, is it interfering with the quality of your sleep? How about mental focus and concentration? Does your tinnitus create additional anxiety?
Tinnitus can be a side affect of hearing loss. Tinnitus is quite common for those with moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss, or profound hearing loss.
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How is tinnitus treated?
There is no cure for chronic tinnitus, but there are management strategies that can help lessen the symptoms and make it more manageable. Currently no medication or treatment options will completely eliminate the tinnitus, but there are some options that can change the effect that it has on your life. These options range from lifestyle modification to hearing aids.
Sound Therapy
One common tinnitus treatment is sound therapy, which involves exposure to low-level background noise or music. This can help “mask” the tinnitus and make it less noticeable. Think of the analogy of lighting a candle in a dark room versus one that has some light. The candle stands out much less in the presence of other light. The same is true with tinnitus maskers. Sound therapy can be done with a hearing aid, an iPod or other portable music player, or through sound generators. A white noise machine can also help to mask the sound.
Meditation
Meditation is a management strategy that can help to improve many aspects of your life. Adding meditation is a great way to manage stress and improve wellbeing.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is another treatment option that can be effective in managing tinnitus. This type of therapy can help you to change the way that you think about and react to the tinnitus noise. It can also help you to develop coping strategies for dealing with the symptoms.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy is another treatment approach that can be helpful. This type of therapy uses a combination of sound therapy and counseling to help you “retrain” your brain to filter out the tinnitus noise.
Hearing Aids
For those with inner ear hearing damage, hearing aids can help with masking noise as well as improving hearing and communication. A hearing test is needed first to determine the type and degree of hearing difficulty, whether hearing aids are appropriate, and what type of hearing aids. The results will reveal the type and severity of hearing loss and provide good information about what type of hearing aid will be most appropriate.
When to see a doctor of hearing healthcare
It’s important to have a professional hearing test so that the devices will be appropriately fit to give you better hearing. Hearing aids are medical devices that are fit to a prescription. It’s important that both the fit in the ear canal is right as well as the sound adjust to give you a natural listening experience. Hearing aids can provide optimal benefit and work in a variety of different listening environments. The device settings can be adjusted to meet your needs.
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Treating tinnitus
If the hearing test reveals you have underlying hearing loss, consider trying hearing aids. These devices help by providing masking noise as well as addressing any hearing deficiency. The brain will start to automatically reduce bothersome sounds due to the input from the hearing aids. While there is no cure, treatment for tinnitus can make a big difference!
How Do Hearing Aids Help?
Hearing aids help with providing masking noise as well as amplification for any hearing deficits. Worried about what they sound like? Processing nowadays can provide a more natural listening experience, as well as improved noise reduction and even wind noise reduction. A hearing professional can help on your hearing journey and make recommendations that work for tinnitus relief as well.
It’s important to note that hearing aids can help, but they don’t restore normal hearing. Hearing professionals can answer more specific questions you have about hearing aid devices, such as in the ear hearing aids or behind the ear hearing aids.
Considering hearing aids for tinnitus?
If you’re looking for a discrete treatment option for mild to moderate hearing loss that you can receive in your home, try Eargo hearing aids. For many, these hearing aids practically disappear inside the ear. This hearing aid model offers remote services and quality products to help address any underlying hearing loss and unique hearing preferences. With Eargo hearing aids you’ll enjoy clearer conversation as well as help in noise, thanks to processing that automatically modifies based on the environment.
Eargo hearing aids come with support from licensed hearing professionals to treat your mild to moderate hearing loss. One of the best features about Eargo hearing aids is that you’ll receive this remote support from hearing professionals in the comfort of your home.
I’m an audiologist and have tested these devices myself. I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with how they perform in a test box.
Eargo hearing aids come with a full refund and customer care to give you the assistance you need. The newest Eargo model is a water resistant design with a high water resistance rating. The earpieces for Eargo hearing aids come in two sizes for comfort in the ear canal and fit a range of sizes and options for your hearing preference. However, if you have an unusual ear shape, you may want to seek out help from hearing professionals in your area.
In background noise or other difficult settings, sound adjust automatically optimizes to help you hear your best. Sound match hearing is a great feature, and conversation sound adjust identifies voices and reduces background noise. For those with mild to moderate hearing loss, Eargo hearing aids have a lot of advantages.
Other management strategies
There are also some things that you can do on your own to help manage the symptoms of tinnitus. One is to avoid loud noise exposure, which can make tinnitus worse. Another is to manage stress, which can also aggravate tinnitus.
If you are struggling with tinnitus, know that you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from this condition. There are treatments available that can help lessen the symptoms and make it more manageable.
There is help for tinnitus. Additionally, lifestyle modifications, like reducing alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, increasing water intake, and improving quality rest can all help to provide tinnitus relief.
Looking for more support in your tinnitus management? Please reach out, I’d love to help you and talk about your specific situation.
Can tinnitus go away?
In some cases, tinnitus will go away on its own. If the underlying cause is resolved, the tinnitus may improve or disappear. However, for many people, tinnitus is a chronic condition. There is no cure for tinnitus currently, but there are ways to manage it and minimize its impact on your life. Some find that seeking treatment on their hearing journey can help to lessen the impact on their life.
If you are struggling with tinnitus, know that you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from this condition. There are treatments available that can help lessen the symptoms and make it more manageable. Do not hesitate to reach out for help if you are struggling. There is hope for relief.
Can we cure tinnitus?
Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, as you see, there are many strategies to help manage its effect on your well-being, such as relaxation techniques, stress management, sound therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy. If you develop tinnitus, it is best to avoid loud sounds, as these can aggravate tinnitus symptoms and worsen tinnitus for some people.
Bottom line
Tinnitus is a symptom that millions suffer from. The exact cause of tinnitus is often unknown, but there are still some effective management strategies.
The American Tinnitus Association has resources and support groups.
While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are treatments available that can help lessen the symptoms and make it more manageable. If you are struggling with tinnitus, reach out for help. There are many resources available to you. You don’t have to suffer from tinnitus alone.
Do you have any questions or comments about tinnitus? We want to hear from you in the comments below.
Do you have any questions or comments about tinnitus? We want to hear from you in the comments below.
