Tinnitus-Managing the Ringing in Your Ears
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external noise is present. According to the American Tinnitus Association, roughly 15% of all people in the U.S. have tinnitus. This increases to 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65.
Tinnitus is a complex auditory phenomenon. While past theories suggested it was solely a sign of central nervous system problems, we now know it involves changes in both the inner ear and how the brain processes sound.
INTERESTING TIDBIT- you can lose up to 50% of your cochlear nerve fibers and still raise your hand as “normal” during standard audiometric testing. This means that standard hearing tests may not catch all the underlying issues contributing to tinnitus.
To discuss your tinnitus concerns, make an appointment with us; in a Tinnitus Evaluation Appointment, we will go through your case history, do a visual inspection of your ear canal, complete a full comprehensive hearing evaluation, as well as tinnitus testing.
Tinnitus Affects
Common symptoms include ringing, buzzing, hissing, or roaring sounds in the ears. These sounds can be constant or intermittent, and their volume can vary.
Tinnitus can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. It can affect:
- thoughts and emotions
- hearing and communication
- sleep
- concentration
Causes
Age is the #1 contributing factor to tinnitus as the nervous system slows down (similar to our vision, hearing loss). Loud noise is also a common cause of tinnitus. Things like loud concerts, construction noise, or even using headphones too loud can damage your hearing and lead to that ringing sound. This link between tinnitus and loud noise is especially evident among military veterans who have been exposed to gunfire, machinery noise, and explosions.
While loud noise is a major factor, other things can also trigger tinnitus, like:
- Ear infections
- Certain medications, including antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, NSAIDs, and some antidepressants
- Head injuries that damage the auditory system or affect nerves and brain areas involved in sound processing
- Some health conditions such as diabetes, migraines, thyroid disorders, anemia, lupus, and multiple sclerosis
Relief
Despite social media pop-up ads, there is only ONE primary treatment option approved and recommended by the American Academy of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery Foundation as part of their Tinnitus Guidelines: prescription hearing aids. Prescription hearing aids can help to restimulate the remaining auditory nervous system, and help to preserve the neural integrity of the central nervous system.
Secondary treatment options that could be included as part of a broader Tinnitus Treatment Plan could include:
- maskers
- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help manage stress and anxiety related to tinnitus
- discussing sleep hygiene options with a Primary Care Physician