Basics of Tinnitus

Tinnitus, also known as just ‘ringing in the ears’, is a condition that is suffered by as many as 50 million people in the United States. Around 25% of those sufferers have such severe tinnitus that it becomes a problem for their everyday life. But what exactly is tinnitus, how does it affect us and how can we treat it? In this brief article, we’ll be going through the basics of tinnitus and what it means to live with the condition.

How do you define tinnitus?

Tinnitus is often defined as a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in the ear. Occasionally, it may also be described as a roaring noise. Tinnitus can affect both ears or just one, and it can be continuous or intermittent depending on the severity of the condition. The noises can often be low and steady, or it can be an incredibly distracting ring in your ear that prevents you from doing your daily activities.

Most forms of tinnitus are not life-threatening and it’s usually not a sign of a more serious underlying issue. It can, however, be incredibly frustrating to deal with and annoying. In some severe cases of tinnitus, it may impact your daily life and the symptoms could become a major annoyance. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the impact it has on your life and also identify what is actually causing your tinnitus. Although self-diagnosis can give you a good starting point, it’s best to see a qualified audiologist to help you diagnose the issue and seek the best remedy.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually caused by damage or stress to the cells in your inner ear. When the cells are disrupted, the signals they send to the brain will be altered which occasionally produces a noise that can only be heard by the sufferer. Damage usually comes from exposure to loud noises and certain types of medications or disease can also cause tinnitus. Sometimes, tinnitus can also develop due to other problems that are not related to your hearing system. For instance, anxiety and neck injuries can also cause the ringing in your ear.

How do you manage tinnitus?

The first step to take is to see a qualified audiologist. They will help you identify how severe your tinnitus is and what the best course of action to take is. In most cases, you’ll be recommended hearing aids that are able to mask the sound caused by tinnitus. This is usually the best course of action to take especially if the ringing in your ear has become frustratingly difficult to cope with during your regular activities. Masking the noise is fantastic for chronic sufferers and could give you back the freedom of hearing. Other solutions involve identifying the source of your tinnitus. This could be stress, hearing loss or an ear infection.