Ever think you’re hearing things that aren’t there? Well, in some cases that might justify a trip to a psychiatrist, but not always. Some folks experience background noise that may or may not be associated with hearing loss. It can take the form of a variety of sounds, and can range from minimal to extensive enough to disrupt concentration or normal hearing. Please join me as we take a closer look at this very common condition called tinnitus.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a malfunction of the auditory system that results in an individual hearing sounds inside their head or ears that have no external source. The noise is often described as ringing, roaring, or buzzing, but may take the form of just about anything, including chirping, thumping, or humming, and can range in pitch from low and dull to high and piercing. It can be found in one or both ears and/or in the head. Tinnitus is classified in one of two ways: subjective or objective. Subjective tinnitus causes sounds that only the patient can hear. Objective, on the other hand, produces sounds that can also be heard by a health practitioner during an examination, such as through the use of a stethoscope or other diagnostic instrument.
Keep in mind that tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can be the result of a number of medical conditions. It can also be associated with hearing loss related to aging. It is rarely an indication of a serious health problem, but it can sometimes be produced by tumors of the head and neck. Tinnitus is a very common condition, affecting as many as 40 million adults in the United States alone.
What Causes Tinnitus?
A quick overview of the inner ear will help us to understand the causes of tinnitus better. Microscopic hairs on each of the thousands of auditory cells move in response to sound waves that enter the ear from the outside environment. The movement of these hairs triggers an electrical current that discharges electricity through the auditory nerve, and the brain converts these electrical impulses into sound. If these fragile hairs become damaged in any way, they cease to function properly, and can begin to transmit false or “random” signals that cause the brain to interpret these as sound. This dysfunctional movement of the hairs can create “static” that makes it difficult for the brain to properly process legitimate sounds. The result can be a din of meaningless background noise.
The above scenario is responsible for most subjective tinnitus, which is the most common type. How does the inner ear become damaged? In a variety of ways. Some of the most common include:
The less common form of tinnitus is objective, also known as pulsatile tinnitus. It is characterized by noise that is usually found in beat with the rhythm of your heart. It can also be heard by one examining the patient. It is most often linked to disorders of the blood vessels. Common causes for such tinnitus are:
What Treatments Are Available for Tinnitus?
The first thing to consider when evaluating a patient for treatment of tinnitus is any underlying cause. For example, if certain medications may be triggering tinnitus, they may be changed or eliminated. If earwax is a problem, deal with that and it may make the tinnitus disappear as well. Some causes are not so easy to deal with though. If tinnitus is the result of permanent auditory damage, the tinnitus must be managed in different way because the hearing damage cannot be corrected.
Some medications have been tried, with limited success. These include certain tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and nervous system depressants, all of which have a litany of undesirable side effects.
Some of the most effective treatments for tinnitus involve noninvasive coping mechanisms and lifestyle changes. Some options for managing tinnitus include:
An interesting study involving tinnitus patients indicates that attitude towards the malady has a big impact on how disruptive it can be. Learning to cope and not let the unwanted noise annoy or agitate you is key to managing tinnitus. Since stress is a factor in many tinnitus cases, if folks allow tinnitus to distress them, it only makes things worse. In a way, learning to deal with tinnitus is a lot like learning to deal with pain. If patients can overcome the emotional impact of the disorder, half the battle is won.
As with most health issues, the best treatment is prevention, and tinnitus is no exception. Consistently making good dietary, exercise, and lifestyle choices, especially from a young age, is the best remedy for most of our modern sicknesses, including tinnitus. In addition to that, protecting your hearing is essential. Most young folks don’t give too much thought to their hearing, but consistently and foolishly exposing yourself to excessive levels of noise will inevitably result in unpleasant consequences, such as hearing loss or tinnitus, later in life. What you sow you shall reap.
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