What is Tinnitus?

It’s a term that has become a lot more common as of late, especially as we grow more aware how many of us live with it. Nearly 15 percent of all people suffer from some form of tinnitus, and many of those cases are chronic and seriously debilitating. But what is tinnitus? How do you know you have it and what do you do about it?

Symptoms

Tinnitus isn’t really a condition, it’s a symptom. It’s described as hearing audio illusions, noises without any external source to explain them. These noises can sound like buzzing, humming, drumming or even melodic. You might hear them in your head or seemingly in your ears. Sometimes they are persistent, sometimes they are not. What’s more, tinnitus can change over time. Another symptom associated with tinnitus is hyperacusis. This means that you become more sensitive to noise. Many tinnitus sufferers find this is especially true of nighttime, when they’re in bed and it’s otherwise quiet.

Causes

There is no one cause for tinnitus. In some cases, a hearing professional might find a specific source: from earwax build ups to hearing loss, even the wrong medication or an impacted tooth. Treating these conditions can treat the tinnitus. In cases of pulsatile tinnitus (when it matches the rhythm of your heartbeat), a cardiac or blood-related issue might be the cause. Middle ear infections and hearing loss can be other causes, which your hearing healthcare provider might help you diagnose. But mental health issues, such as stress and anxiety, have been shown to play a role as well.

Side effects

Mental health issues can also be one of the areas where the impacts of tinnitus are most felt, too. Living with ringing, humming or drumming ears can naturally be quite difficult. Anxiety, stress and depression are more common in tinnitus sufferers than in others, especially in cases that can be described as chronic or debilitating. Another common issue, and one that isn’t entirely unrelated, is the trouble sleeping that many sufferers have. If the perceived noise is keeping one up at night, this can dramatically impact the overall wellbeing, including leading to back pain, weight gain and high blood pressure.

Treatments

You may have heard there is no cure for tinnitus, and there is some level of truth to that. In some cases, if an underlying condition is found, then treating it can cause a complete recovery from tinnitus. Most cases aren’t that simple, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat them. Hearing aids and therapy can be used to amplify external noise and habituate you to your tinnitus so that it no longer becomes an issue. Noise machines and noise masking can help you match the frequency and pitch of your tinnitus so it’s less noticeable as you sleep. There is a range of different therapies to treat both the symptom and the emotional distress it can cause. Tinnitus is a complex and wide-ranging issue. If you think you might have it, arrange a checkup with a hearing specialist and your primary care provider as soon as is possible. The sooner you start looking at potential causes and treatments, the sooner you are likely to find the tools to help you manage it.