Actually, sometimes it is a buzz, but most often it’s a high-frequency sound—usually referred to as “ringing in the ears.” Some people also describe it as a roaring, hissing, whistling, chirping, clicking, or whooshing sound. Regardless of how it is described, tinnitus is the medical term used to refer to an individual’s perception of sound in the absence of any external sound. So, you might hear high-pitched tones, but there is no source for these sounds.
Tinnitus can be irritating, frustrating, intrusive—and worse. No cure has been found as yet, but many treatment strategies have proved beneficial for certain people.
If you suffer from tinnitus, you are not alone! More than 50 million Americans experience some degree of symptoms, some 12 million are bothered by it enough to seek medical care, and approximately 2 million are physically and/or psychologically debilitated by the symptoms.
It’s important to tell your doctor if you think you are experiencing tinnitus. He/she, knowing your medical history, will be able to advise whether you need to see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) physician or any other specialist. Awareness is always the first step! Once you know what you have to deal with, you and your doctor can determine what treatment, strategies, and/or regular monitoring would be best for you.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease! Although it does not cause hearing loss, tinnitus may accompany hearing loss. Along with vertigo, tinnitus is a frequent symptom of Ménière’s syndrome, which is an underlying disease/condition of the inner ear.
Causes
Tinnitus has no specific known physiological (i.e., within the body’s structure) cause, but certain things can definitely trigger and/or worsen the symptoms: exposure to noise; head/neck trauma/injury; stress; certain disorders/diseases (hyper-/hypothyroidism, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia—and when these are the triggers, curing the underlying condition usually eliminates the tinnitus symptoms); certain types of tumors; wax build-up; jaw misalignment (temporomandibular joint syndrome [TMJ]); cardiovascular disease; ototoxicity (medications that are toxic to the inner ear). Pulsatile tinnitus, a rare but more serious type, sounds like a rhythmic pulsation—often described as “hearing your heartbeat.” It can indicate abnormal blood flow, a brain tumor, and/or brain structure abnormality, so it should not be ignored.
Treatments/Therapies
Noise is the number-one cause of tinnitus, so monitoring exposure to unnecessary noise can be a very effective symptom-management strategy. Managing stress is also key to minimizing the severity of symptoms in most patients.
Aside from that, certain treatments are effective for some people but not others. Again, professional advice is best when designing the appropriate treatment plan. (Effectiveness varies depending upon severity, length of time experiencing symptoms, underlying causes, other health conditions, etc.)
Treatment/therapies include: amplification (hearing aids); biofeedback; cochlear implants/electrical stimulation; cognitive therapy/counseling; drug therapy; sound therapy; relaxation therapy; TMJ treatment. Alternative modalities/remedies are also used: acupuncture; magnet therapy; hypnosis; gingko biloba; B vitamins. [CAUTION! Talk to your doctor before embarking on any alternative-care plan, as there may be risks associated with other health conditions, and research of these modalities/remedies is not always as closely monitored as is that of allopathic (standard) medical care. In addition to being ineffective, some of these modalities/remedies have been known to worsen symptoms in some patients.]
HELPFUL HINTS: Reduce your sodium intake! Too much sodium may worsen tinnitus symptoms. Read label ingredients—salt is not the only source of sodium. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking may also worsen tinnitus symptoms.
WRITTEN BY: Lisa Drucker, Content Team Leader, Synergy Publishing
SOURCES: American Tinnitus Association (ATA); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
DISCLAIMER: The information, ideas, and suggestions in this material are not intended to render or substitute for professional medical diagnosis, care, treatment, or advice. Before following any suggestions contained in this material, you should consult your personal physician. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this material. The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the author or publisher, and the author and publisher hereby disclaim any responsibility for them. The products, treatments, modalities, therapies, views, etc., described and/or advertised in this material are neither endorsed nor recommended by the author or publisher.
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