What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a term that refers to a ringing or buzzing in the ears that happens when there is no external sound present. This is a relatively frequent condition that is estimated to affect up to 15% of the population. It can affect one or both ears, and frequently, patients describe the sound as "originating in their head." Tinnitus is described in a variety of ways by individuals.
Tinnitus symptoms can be extremely distressing.
While tinnitus can be caused by significant medical illnesses, it is frequently caused by less serious conditions. However, the distress and anxiety it causes frequently cause people's lives to be disrupted. Due to the unpleasant influence that tinnitus can have on individuals, it may be beneficial to gain additional knowledge about which symptoms are frequent and benign (non-serious) and which require medical attention and action.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus is classified into two broad categories: pulsatile and non-pulsatile.
Pulsatile tinnitus is an ear disturbance that mimics the sound of a heartbeat. Frequently, individuals will describe a pulsing sensation in their brain and the ability to hear their heartbeat. Tinnitus that sounds like the heartbeat of another person might be caused by normal or irregular blood flow in the capillaries around the ear. This sort of tinnitus should be brought to your physician's attention, as it is caused by a variety of unusual illnesses that may require medical intervention.
While non-pulsatile tinnitus is more prevalent, it might be more difficult to diagnose. Tinnitus is frequently related to hearing loss. However, even with normal hearing can experience tinnitus. While many people who have tinnitus believe the problem is with their hearing, there is some evidence in tinnitus studies that this noise is originated in the brain, although it is perceived through the ears.
Tinnitus is related to a number of distinct ear and brain conditions. Many of these disorders are frequently accompanied by additional symptoms, such as hearing loss or imbalance.
Despite the extensive list of possible causes of tinnitus, there are frequently no recognized causes, and physicians simply state that a patient has tinnitus. Even if the cause of the tinnitus is determined, the majority of cases of tinnitus are caused by benign, or non-threatening, diseases.
You could be one of the estimated 50 million or more Americans who suffer from tinnitus. The mysterious condition produces an inaudible sound in the head that has no external source. For some, it's a high-pitched ringing, while others hiss, whistle, buzz, whoosh, chirp, hum, roar, or even shriek.
The sound may appear to originate in one or both ears, from within the brain, or from a distance. It may be continuous or sporadic, steady or pulsing. One strategy for addressing this condition is to use various forms of sound therapy to assist individuals in tuning out the internal soundtrack of tinnitus.
Tinnitus can be caused by a number of reasons. Long-term exposure to loud noises is frequently cited as a cause. However, other possible causes include middle ear problems such as infection, a tumor or cyst pressing on the ear's nerves, or something as simple as earwax buildup. Tinnitus can also be a symptom of Meniere's disease, a dysfunction of the inner ear's balancing mechanism.
Even conventional aging can result in tinnitus, which is prevalent in persons over the age of 55. As people age, the auditory nerve linking the ear to the brain begins to tear, impairing their ability to hear regular noises.
"Neurons (nerve cells) in sound-processing parts of the brain compensate for this lack of information by increasing their sensitivity," explains Daniel Polley, director of the Lauer Tinnitus Research Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear. The sensitivity knobs are cranked all the way up to the point where neurons respond to the activity of adjacent neurons. This provides the perception of a sound that is not physically present in the area. It's a classic example of a feedback loop, comparable to how a microphone squeals when placed too close to a speaker."
Everybody occasionally has the perception of a phantom sound. If it only lasts a few seconds or minutes, there is no reason to be concerned. If, on the other hand, it pulses in time with your heart rate, Polley says, it's absolutely something to have looked out by a physician. If the noise is fairly consistent, it is wise to see an audiologist or otolaryngologist.
Tinnitus: Is your ear ringing or humming? Sound therapy is one approach.
Treatment of Tinnitus
Can sound therapy assist in masking tinnitus?
Tinnitus does not have a cure, however, it can become less obvious over time. There are, however, techniques to alleviate symptoms and assist in tuning out the noise and minimizing its influence. Treatments are a matter of trial and error, as they may work for some people but not for others.
One frequently recommended method is sound therapy. It works by altering your perception of or reaction to tinnitus through the use of external noise. In certain patients, research suggests that sound therapy can effectively decrease tinnitus. Masking and habituation are two typical methods of sound treatment.
Masking. This exposes a person to background noise, such as white noise, natural sounds, or ambient noise, in order to conceal or divert attention away from tinnitus noise. Tinnitus perception can be temporarily relieved by listening to sound machines or music via headphones or other devices. Additionally, household items such as electric fans, radios, and televisions might assist. Numerous persons who suffer from tinnitus also suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids can be used to disguise tinnitus by amplifying external noises. According to the American Tinnitus Association, this is especially effective when hearing loss and tinnitus occur in the same frequency range.
Habituation. Also referred to as tinnitus retraining therapy, this procedure teaches your brain to adjust to tinnitus. For extended periods of time, you listen to a noise that is comparable to your tinnitus sound. Eventually, your brain will tune out both the tone and the tinnitus sound. It's comparable to how you ultimately forget how glasses feel against your nose. The therapy is carried out under the supervision of a physician and the duration varies according to the individual but is typically between 12 and 24 months.
Additional strategies may be beneficial in the treatment of tinnitus.
Depending on the severity of your tinnitus, your doctor may also recommend addressing underlying concerns.
Musculoskeletal system factors. Tinnitus can occasionally be made more noticeable by jaw clenching, tooth grinding, past injury, or neck muscle stress. If tight muscles are a contributing factor to the condition, massage therapy may help alleviate them.
underlying medical conditions Tinnitus may be alleviated by addressing problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Negative thought. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy may also be used to divert negative thoughts and emotions associated with tinnitus.
Medication. Tinnitus can occur as a side effect of a variety of medications, most notably aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as certain antidepressants. Often, the condition resolves on its own when the dose of the medicine is reduced or discontinued.
