17 Facts about Tinnitus You May Not Know About
If you hear noises in your ear/head for no apparent reason, it might be because of Tinnitus. Many people around the world experience Tinnitus but generally fail to identify it. This is a grave mistake because if left untreated for a long time, it can cause partial or full hearing damage. However, many people around the world are unaware of Tinnitus altogether, which is rather unfortunate. So, we have decided to inform you about some lesser-known facts about Tinnitus as well as debunk the various myths and misconceptions associated with it. Let’s find out all about Tinnitus.
1. Tinnitus is a Common Health Issue:
When one experiences strange noises in the head, particularly in the ear(s), then this condition is called Tinnitus. It is inspired by a Latin language term “tinnire” that means bell-like tinkling or ringing sound. However, there is nothing to be embarrassed about because it is a very common health problem that affects up to 20% of people worldwide. Around 50 million citizens in the US experience some degree of Tinnitus.
2. Tinnitus is not a Psychiatric Condition:
People often regard hearing or ringing noises in their head as a symptom of psychiatric ailment. This is totally wrong; Tinnitus isn’t a psychiatric condition. Besides, the noises can be heard in any part of the head, and either in one or both ears. In fact, Tinnitus in itself isn’t a serious problem at all, but if it is not treated timely, the symptoms may worsen with the passage of time.
3. Tinnitus is not a Disease but a Symptom:
It is a misconception that Tinnitus is a disease. It is merely a symptom of another underlying health condition that may or may not be age-related. Such as, elderly people may experience hearing loss that may cause symptoms like ringing sound, or a circulatory system or ear injury can also cause symptoms of Tinnitus. Also, experiencing Tinnitus’ symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that the auditory system is damaged; we can hear ringing sound even if something blocks the ear canal, such as ear wax.
4. Tinnitus and Acute Hearing Loss aren’t the same:
It is commonly believed that Tinnitus and Acute Hearing Loss are similar conditions, which is wrong because clinically both have somewhat similar symptoms, but both are entirely different conditions. Acute Hearing Loss is a disease in which the patient feels completely deaf or the hearing gets blocked. Tinnitus is merely a symptom of an underlying health issue and creates different kinds of noises in the ears.
5. Anyone can Develop Tinnitus:
Tinnitus can take affect at any age, and it is a misconception that only older people are susceptible to developing Tinnitus symptoms. Even if a child is exposed to loud noise for long periods of time, he or she will develop Tinnitus sooner or later. There is no reason behind development of Tinnitus but let’s not forget that age is certainly one of the main factors, while other factors include background, gender, and profession. From this aspect, older people fall into the high-risk group.
6. Tinnitus Indicates Another Underlying Health Condition:
A number of underlying health issues/conditions can cause Tinnitus. Such as infection in sinuses or ear(s), hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to noisy environment, and presence of diseases like brain tumor, Eustachian tube dysfunction, Acoustic neuroma, blood vessels related disorders, and the disorder of inner ear called Ménière’s disease. When women undergo sudden hormonal changes, especially before menopause, they may also experience Tinnitus. Furthermore, neck and head injuries, and issues in the temporomandibular joint of your ears can lead to Tinnitus.
7. Certain Medications May Cause Tinnitus:
There are various medications that can either encourage the development or worsening of Tinnitus. Typically, high dose of medications like antibiotics (including erythromycin and polymyxin B), diuretics (including bumetanide and furosemide), and cancer drugs (cisplatin) can cause Tinnitus symptoms. Additionally, common use malaria drugs called Quinine medications, high doses of aspirin (such as over 12 tablets a day), and some antidepressants can worsen symptoms of Tinnitus.
8. Tinnitus Symptoms May Vary from Person-to-Person:
Not everyone hears similar level of volume or intensity of Tinnitus sounds; some may hear very loud ringing sound and some experience low-pitch humming sounds. General symptoms of Tinnitus include hissing, whistling, roaring, clicking, ringing, whooshing, and chirping sounds in one or both ears. These symptoms may be followed by numerous other symptoms, specifically if the condition is not addresses at the initial stages. Accompanying symptoms may include sleep disturbances, irritability, depression, stress/anxiety, concentration-related difficulties, ear pain, headaches, and higher sensitivity to very loud noises.
9. There are Four Degrees/Categories of Tinnitus:
There are varying degrees of Tinnitus’ intensity, duration, and frequency. This is why, Tinnitus symptoms are generally divided between four categories namely- Objective, Subjective, Acute, and Chronic. The volume of the sound also differs greatly, which is why it is further divided into four degrees.
Degree 1- The intensity and volume is minimal and doesn’t impact the person much.
Degree 2- The sound becomes slightly disruptive for the person when experiencing stress or depression.
Degree 3- Symptoms start affecting the quality of life of the person; the individual becomes irritable, and experiences other accompanying symptoms like headaches, and sleep disturbances.
Degree 4- The person cannot focus on work and overall physical and emotional health starts deteriorating, leading to complete social isolation.
10. Loud Noises are a Common Cause of Tinnitus:
People who live nearby the airports, are exposed to bomb blasts, or work in construction, mining, or industrial sector are more susceptible to developing Tinnitus. Even musicians are vulnerable to Tinnitus. The reason is that they are constantly exposed to loud noises that ultimately damage the inner ear’s sensory hair cells, which are responsible for transmission of sound to the brain.
11. Tinnitus can be Subjective and Objective:
Subjective Tinnitus is more common than objective Tinnitus. Problems related to your inner, outer, or middle ear, an underlying issue in the auditory nerves, or a problem in the auditory pathways can cause Subjective Tinnitus. It is called subjective because only the patient can hear the noises.
Objective Tinnitus is called so because the sounds/noises are heard by the patient as well as the doctor during the examination. Any issue that impacts the bone in the middle ear leads to Objective Tinnitus, whereas higher blood flow, blood vessel issues or inner ear contractions/spasms are also common causes.
12. Scientists Believe Tinnitus is Akin to Chronic Pain Syndrome:
Scientists are still divided over what actually causes Tinnitus and why sound-like illusion is generated. However, they do agree that Tinnitus is very similar to another type of persistent symptom called Chronic Pain Syndrome in which pain is felt persistently following the healing of an injury like broken bone or wound. Both the conditions affect the neural circuits, which communicate with different parts of the brain, for instance, the limbic region that impacts emotions and mood.
13. Tinnitus is Preventable:
Usually, Tinnitus is a result of unavoidable circumstances but through certain precautionary measures, it is possible to prevent some degrees of tinnitus. Such as, to prevent ear nerves damage from constantly hearing loud noises (for example, due to using chain saws regularly) one should wear hearing protection that covers the ears. Similarly, to prevent damage from loud music especially due to earphones, one should always turn the volume down while listening. Regular exercise, healthy diet, and proper sleep can also help by keeping blood vessels and cardiovascular system healthy.
14. Tinnitus Can be Treated with Relaxation Exercises:
Relaxation exercises can help in treating Tinnitus while stress can worsen it. Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are highly productive in treating Tinnitus. In this regard, it is important to diagnose the symptoms as earlier as possible to prevent the risk of development of other accompanying symptoms like headaches and muscle spasms. You should give your ears a break at regular intervals by avoiding listening to music at loud volume or staying in very noisy environments to ensure optimal auditory health.
15. Smoking, Stress, and Anxiety Worsen Tinnitus:
People think that smoking is only bad for the respiratory and cardiovascular health, which is a misconception because research suggests that cigarette smoke is equally harmful for ears. Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that can aggravate chronic ear infections and can potentially cause or worsen Tinnitus. Moreover, anxiety and stress can contribute to developing/worsening Tinnitus. Especially vulnerable are those who regularly experience panic attacks or suffer from anxiety disorder or depression.
16. Some Tinnitus Signs Must Never be Ignored:
There are certain signs that must be considered alarming and require immediate examination and possibly treatment. If you feel that tinnitus sounds haven’t improved even after a week, the ringing sounds occur repeatedly, you have developed tinnitus after cold or any other type of respiratory infection, and you experience dizziness or full/partial hearing loss, contact your doctor immediately.
17. Tinnitus can go Without Treatment:
Some types/degrees of Tinnitus are less chronic and may go without any treatment. Just follow the preventive measures and you will never hear those irritating hissing or ringing sounds in your ear(s). But, keep in mind that all types of Tinnitus cannot be treated or eliminated. This generally happens when Tinnitus is the result of an underlying health problem. Until and unless the health problem is not correctly diagnosed and treated, the patient will keep hearing strange sounds.
Source: Mayo Clinic: Tinnitus