Invisibility is a very useful power in the movies. Whether it’s a mud-covered hero, a cloaked spaceship, or a stealthy ninja, invisibility allows people in movies to be more effectual and, frequently, accomplish the impossible.
Invisible health conditions, unfortunately, are just as potent and much less enjoyable. Tinnitus, for instance, is a really common condition that impacts the ears. But there are no external symptoms, it doesn’t matter how well you look.
But just because it’s invisible doesn’t mean tinnitus doesn’t have a significant affect on those who experience symptoms.
What is tinnitus?
So we recognize one thing: you can’t see tinnitus. Actually, tinnitus symptoms are auditory in nature, being a condition of the ears. You know that ringing in your ears you sometimes hear after a rock concert or in a really silent room? That’s tinnitus. Tinnitus is so common that around 25 million individuals experience it daily.
There are many other presentations of tinnitus besides the common ringing. Some people might hear buzzing, crunching, metallic sounds, all kinds of things. The one thing that all of these noises have in common is that they’re not actual sounds at all.
For most people, tinnitus will be a short-lived affair, it will come and go very quickly. But for somewhere between 2-5 million people, tinnitus is a persistent, sometimes debilitating condition. Sure, it can be a bit annoying to hear that ringing for a few minutes now and again. But what if you can’t get rid of that sound, ever? Clearly, your quality of life would be significantly impacted.
Tinnitus causes
Have you ever attempted to determine the cause of a headache? Perhaps it’s stress; maybe you’re getting a cold; maybe it’s allergies. Lots of things can cause a headache and that’s the challenge. The symptoms of tinnitus, though fairly common, also have a large number of causes.
In some cases, it might be really apparent what’s causing your tinnitus symptoms. But you might never really know in other cases. Generally speaking, however, tinnitus could be caused by the following:
- Colds or allergies: If a lot of mucus backs up in your ears, it could cause some swelling. And tinnitus can be the outcome of this inflammation.
- Head or neck injuries: The head and neck are extremely sensitive systems. Ringing in your ears can be triggered by traumatic brain injuries including concussions.
- Meniere’s Disease: A good number of symptoms can be caused by this disorder of the inner ear. Amongst the first symptoms, however, are typically tinnitus and dizziness. Irreversible hearing loss can occur over time.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure can trigger tinnitus symptoms for some individuals. If this is the situation, it’s a smart plan to consult your doctor in order to help regulate your blood pressure.
- Ear infections or other blockages: Similar to a cold or seasonal allergies, ear infections, and other blockages can cause inflammation in the ear canal. As a result, your ears might begin to ring.
- Certain medications: Certain over-the-counter or prescription drugs can cause you to hear ringing in your ears. Typically, that ringing subsides once you stop taking the medication in question.
- Hearing loss: There is a close association between tinnitus and hearing loss. Partly, that’s because noise damage can also be a direct contributor to sensorineural hearing loss. In other words, both of them have the same cause. But hearing loss can also exacerbate tinnitus, when the outside world seems quieter, that ringing in your ears can seem louder.
- Noise damage: Damage from loud noises can, over time, cause tinnitus symptoms to develop. This is so prevalent that loud noises are one of the primary causes of tinnitus! Using hearing protection if extremely loud locations can’t be avoided is the best way to prevent this type of tinnitus.
If you’re able to determine the cause of your tinnitus, treating it could become simpler. For instance, if an earwax obstruction is causing ringing in your ears, clearing that earwax can relieve your symptoms. Some individuals, however, may never recognize what causes their tinnitus symptoms.
Diagnosing Tinnitus
Tinnitus that only persists a few minutes isn’t something that you really need to have diagnosed. Still, getting regular hearing assessments is always a smart plan.
But you should absolutely make an appointment with us if your tinnitus won’t subside or if it continues to come back. We will perform a hearing examination, discuss your symptoms and how they’re impacting your life, and maybe even talk about your medical history. Your symptoms can then be diagnosed using this insight.
How is tinnitus treated?
There’s no cure for tinnitus. But it can be treated and it can be managed.
If you’re taking a specific medication or have an underlying medical condition, your symptoms will get better when you address the underlying cause. But there will be no known root condition to treat if you’re dealing with chronic tinnitus.
So managing symptoms so they have a minimal impact on your life is the goal if you have persistent tinnitus. There are lots of things that we can do to help. Here are some of the most common:
- A masking device: This is a device a lot like a hearing aid, except instead of boosting sounds, it masks sound. These devices create just the right amount and type of sound to make your specific tinnitus symptoms fade into the background.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: In terms of cognitive behavioral therapy, we may end up referring you to a different provider. This approach uses therapy to help you learn to ignore the tinnitus sounds.
- A hearing aid: When you have hearing loss, outside sounds become quieter and your tinnitus symptoms become more noticeable. In these cases, a hearing aid can help turn the volume up on the rest of the world, and overpower the buzzing or ringing you may be hearing from your tinnitus.
The treatment plan that we develop will be custom-tailored to your specific tinnitus needs. Helping you get back to enjoying your life by managing your symptoms is the objective here.
What should you do if you’re dealing with tinnitus?
Even though tinnitus can’t be seen, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Your symptoms will likely get worse if you do. It’s better to get ahead of your symptoms because you may be able to stop them from growing worse. You should at least be certain to have your hearing protection handy whenever you’re going to be around loud sound.
If you’re struggling with tinnitus, contact us, we can help.
