Everything You Need to Know about Tinnitus

Tinnitus is often categorized as a ‘ringing in the ear’ that only you can hear. It’s a very common condition, with over 50 million people in the US living with tinnitus. However, even though many people experience it on a regular basis, tinnitus is also a very commonly misunderstood condition. 

Are you someone who was recently diagnosed with tinnitus? Or does a relative live with it and you want to know more about what they experience? No matter why you have any questions, we’ve got answers for you. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about tinnitus, and how it can affect a person’s life, as well as how it’s most often treated. 

What Causes Tinnitus? 

Tinnitus has many causes, and a person will often experience one of the following before making an appointment with an audiologist: 

• Hearing Loss: If the hairs inside your ear become damaged in any way, your brain may misinterpret signals, and the infamous tinnitus ‘ringing’ is picked up as a result
• An Infection: If there’s a blockage in your ears, both the blockage itself and a buildup of bacteria can cause tinnitus
• Injury to the Head or Neck: Injuries to either of these areas can cause the inner ear to become damaged as well, which can also lead to the development of tinnitus

The Symptoms of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is characterized by noises in the ear that no one else can hear. This noise is typically a persistent ringing sound, but many audiologists have reported people also experiencing buzzing sounds, air rushing sounds, as well as hissing and ticking sounds. Sometimes, tinnitus is found to ring in time with the heartbeat, which is known as pulsatile tinnitus.

Treating Tinnitus

If you’re concerned about the tinnitus you or a loved one is experiencing, it’s important to note that tinnitus can be treated, and in a variety of ways. 

Most people will be advised by an audiologist to use a hearing aid with a masking feature., This is a normal hearing aid that is equipped with a feature that plays low level frequencies that help to mask the sound of tinnitus. These are essentially portable white noise machines you can take wherever you go.

Similarly, you can also use sound machines to provide background noise when you’re at home, and usually when you’re trying to sleep. This helps to alleviate the impact tinnitus can have on getting a healthy 8 hours sleep every night. 

You can also undergo tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), and be guided by an audiologist into learning to cope with your tinnitus symptoms. This is a good form of treatment for those prone to stress due to hearing complications, and can help you to reframe your mindset regarding your tinnitus. 

And sometimes, it’s best to modify your lifestyle as well. Whether you should consider alternating medication you take for better results, or quit smoking or drinking if you’re someone who does so regularly, should be talked about with your audiologist. You can also have your earwax professionally removed on bi-annual basis.