- The Impact of Pets on Emotional and Hearing Health - April 26, 2024
- Strategies for Coping with Single-Sided Deafness - April 16, 2024
- Effective Strategies for Sharing Your Hearing Loss Journey - April 16, 2024
Have you ever woken up the morning after a live concert and felt a strange fuzziness or ringing in your ears? Have you ever heard strange sounds in your head for a brief moment and realized they were not linked to any external stimulus? These experiences are common for all of us, but if they begin to impact our lives negatively, it could be a bigger issue: tinnitus.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus, known commonly as “ringing of the ear,” is a condition in which you experience sounds without an external stimulus. The sounds are not necessarily always a “ringing” – they may appear as whistling, a rushing of air, roaring, clicking, and in some rare cases, music.
While the phenomenon may seem benign, the reality is that chronic tinnitus is actually a life-altering and frustrating condition that requires treatment.
Prevalence of Tinnitus
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) estimates that approximately 50 million people “experience tinnitus, often to a debilitating degree, making it one of the most common health conditions in the country.” Furthermore, about 20 million people experience chronic tinnitus, with about 2 million people experiencing tinnitus to a debilitating degree.
About 60% of veterans returning from combat zones have reported tinnitus (and hearing loss), due to exposure to loud sounds in the field. As such, the US Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs have supported research on tinnitus and hearing loss.
Approximately 80% to 90% of cases of tinnitus are linked to hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third most common medical condition in the US, affecting 20% of the population or 48 million Americans. While they do not always appear together, many people who experience tinnitus also experience some degree of hearing loss, and vice versa.
Types of Tinnitus
Temporary tinnitus is just that – it eventually stops. Many Americans have reported the experience of temporary tinnitus at least once in their life. It may become difficult when the tinnitus cuts in and out, seemingly at random, catching people off guard.
Chronic tinnitus is an on-going condition, with sounds accompanying people day in and day out. In the long term, chronic tinnitus can lead to many different issues, such as increased stress and anxiety, memory problems, problems with concentration, fatigue, sleep deprivation, and more.
There are two main types of tinnitus: subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus.
Subjective tinnitus is the most common form, making up 99% of tinnitus cases. With subjective tinnitus, only the person who experiences the tinnitus can hear the sounds. Objective tinnitus is quite rare, making up about 1% of tinnitus cases. With objective tinnitus, both the person who experiences the tinnitus and a person in close proximity can hear the tinnitus sounds.
Causes of Tinnitus
Unfortunately, there is no single, identifiable cause for tinnitus. However, depending on the type of tinnitus you experience and whether or not a hearing loss is present, it is easier to narrow down potential causes and also seek a solution for treatment.
With subjective tinnitus, potential causes include: damage due to inner ear hair cells, sensorineural hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, impacted earwax, or a related health condition. Sensorineural hearing loss, one of the two types of hearing loss, is caused by the natural process of aging (presbycusis), exposure to loud sounds, or in some cases, use of ototoxic medication.
With objective tinnitus, potential causes include: circulatory problems (pulsatile tinnitus is a type of tinnitus in which the sounds match the rhythm of your pulse), high blood pressure, muscle spasms, and issues with your ear’s small muscles and bones.
Tinnitus Treatment
While there is no single cure for tinnitus, there are many treatment options available. In some cases, treating related medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or removing impacted earwax, could ease the experience of tinnitus or eliminate it completely. If you are experiencing tinnitus, it is also important to talk to your primary care physician because it may indicate other medical conditions.
When it comes to tinnitus and hearing loss, there are many different options available for treatment. Hearing aids are commonly equipped with excellent tinnitus therapy features. Synthetic tones are played to mask and alleviate the sounds of tinnitus, while advanced listening features help you hear the speech and environmental sounds around you.
If you believe you are experiencing tinnitus, talk to us at New Leaf Hearing Clinic. Our team is here to help you find relief from this frustrating condition.