Am I Suffering From Tinnitus?
Struggling with ringing in your ears? Dealing with a constant buzzing sound? If so, you might be among the millions affected by tinnitus, a sometimes debilitating condition that causes ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in your ears.
Tinnitus is one of the most common yet difficult conditions to deal with. Symptoms include sleep loss, difficulty concentrating, and even dizziness.
If you’re unsure whether you have tinnitus or want to learn more about it for a loved one, our guide to tinnitus helps you identify the common symptoms, causes, and available relief options to keep your and your loved ones’ hearing health in mind.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in one or both ears without an external source. This sound may take different forms, including:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Hissing
- Clicking
- Roaring
Tinnitus is most often caused by an underlying ear condition, such as hearing loss, an ear injury, or a problem with the circulatory system.
There are four common types of tinnitus: subjective, objective, pulsatile, and somatic. Each affects people differently; some struggle with daily activities, whereas others’ symptoms fluctuate.
Hearing loss, stress, and anxiety all have the potential to increase the intensity of tinnitus, so it’s best to work with a trained audiologist if you or someone you love is suffering from tinnitus.
How Common is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is relatively common in the United States. Around 25 million adults reported experiencing tinnitus in the past year, with approximately 14% worldwide suffering from the condition. Around 2% of those cases are severe, resulting in difficulty concentrating and other negative impacts on daily life.
As you get older, you become more likely to experience tinnitus. That’s because of normal age-related hearing loss, and the wear and tear experienced on your inner ears cells. When those cells become damaged, the brain interprets the electrical signals along the nerve from your ear to your brain as sound.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss, but several factors can contribute to its development, including exposure to loud noises, age-related hearing loss, ear infections, ear wax blockages, medications, and other health conditions.
You increase your risk of tinnitus if you work in a noisy environment like a construction site, frequently attend loud concerts, or use headphones for extended periods.
The same goes for ignoring ear infections or ear wax blockages. If left untreated, you will likely experience temporary or permanent tinnitus.
Tinnitus is sometimes linked to other medical conditions, including:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Ménière’s disease
While occasional tinnitus symptoms might not be an immediate concern, please contact your doctor if the ringing persists for more than a day, you’re experiencing hearing loss, or you’ve lost the ability to concentrate during the day due to the noise.
At that point, an expert audiologist can examine your ears and provide the right treatments to protect your hearing and mental health in the long term.
To diagnose tinnitus, an audiologist will perform a series of hearing exams, and if there is a more serious concern, schedule imaging and blood tests to ensure any other underlying problems can be addressed.
How Do You Treat Tinnitus?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus. That being said, numerous treatment options are available that can help reduce its impact on everyday life.
The first is hearing aids. Since most tinnitus cases overlap with hearing loss, hearing aids amplify sound to help make tinnitus less noticeable.
Another option is to use white noise machines, nature sounds, or background music to help mask tinnitus and provide relief.
Lifestyle adjustments are also recommended to help with tinnitus treatment. These might include avoiding situations with loud noises, reducing caffeine intake, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Some audiologists might suggest cognitive behavioral therapy to assist with any anxiety, stress, or other reactions to tinnitus symptoms.
The good news is that tinnitus is treatable, and millions of people living with the condition live happy, fulfilling lives.
Ready to Protect Your Hearing Health?
Tinnitus is frustrating, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. If you’re experiencing persistent ringing, buzzing, or phantom sounds, schedule an appointment with Hearing Health Center to help diagnose and manage your tinnitus.
Don’t let tinnitus take over your life; schedule a hearing exam with Hearing Health Center today.
