Invisibility is a really useful power in the movies. The characters can frequently do the impossible if they have the power of invisibility, whether it’s a starship with cloaking ability or a wizard with an invisibility cloak.
Invisible health problems, regrettably, are just as potent and much less enjoyable. As an illustration, tinnitus is an exceptionally common hearing condition. But there are no external symptoms, it doesn’t matter how thoroughly you look.
But just because it’s invisible doesn’t mean tinnitus doesn’t have a considerable impact on those who experience symptoms.
Tinnitus – what is it?
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 when you are sitting in a very quiet room, or when you return from a loud concert and you hear that ringing in your ears? That’s tinnitus. Tinnitus is so common that about 25 million people experience it daily.
There are lots of other presentations of tinnitus besides the typical ringing. Some individuals may hear humming, crunching, metallic sounds, all kinds of things. The one thing that all of these noises have in common is that they aren’t actual sounds at all.
In most cases, tinnitus will come and go quickly. But for somewhere between 2-5 million individuals, tinnitus is a persistent, sometimes incapacitating condition. Sure, it can be a little irritating to hear that ringing for a few minutes now and again. But what if you can’t be free from that sound, ever? Clearly, your quality of life would be significantly affected.
Tinnitus causes
Have you ever attempted to determine the cause of a headache? Maybe it’s stress; maybe you’re getting a cold; perhaps it’s allergies. A number of things can cause a headache and that’s the challenge. The symptoms of tinnitus, though relatively common, also have a wide variety of causes.
Sometimes, it may be really apparent what’s causing your tinnitus symptoms. But you might never really know in other situations. Generally speaking, however, tinnitus may be caused by the following:
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure can trigger tinnitus symptoms for some people. Getting your blood pressure under control with the help of your doctor is the best way to handle this.
- Noise damage: Tinnitus symptoms can be caused by exposure to overly loud noise over time. This is so prevalent that loud noises are one of the top causes of tinnitus! The best way to counter this type of tinnitus is to avoid excessively loud places (or wear ear protection if avoidance isn’t possible).
- Certain medications: Certain over-the-counter or prescription drugs can cause you to have ringing in your ears. Normally, that ringing subsides when you stop using the medication in question.
- Meniere’s Disease: A good number of symptoms can be caused by this disorder of the inner ear. Dizziness and tinnitus are among the first symptoms to manifest. Irreversible hearing loss can happen over time.
- Ear infections or other blockages: Swelling of the ear canal can be generated by things like seasonal allergies, a cold, or an ear infection. Consequently, your ears might begin to ring.
- Hearing loss: Hearing loss and tinnitus are frequently closely associated. In part, that’s because noise damage can also be a strong contributor to sensorineural hearing loss. They both have the same cause, in other words. But hearing loss can also exacerbate tinnitus, when the rest of the world seems quieter, that ringing in your ears can seem louder.
- Colds or allergies: If a lot of mucus accumulates in your ears, it may cause some inflammation. And tinnitus can be the consequence of this swelling.
- Head or neck injuries: The head and neck are really sensitive systems. Ringing in your ears can be caused by traumatic brain injuries including concussions.
If you’re able to figure out the cause of your tinnitus, managing it might become easier. Clearing out a blockage, for instance, will relieve tinnitus symptoms if that’s what is causing them. Some people, however, might never know what’s causing their tinnitus symptoms.
How is tinnitus diagnosed?
If you have ringing in your ears for a few minutes and then it goes away, it’s not really something that needs to be diagnosed (unless it takes place often). That said, it’s never a bad strategy to check in with us to schedule a hearing evaluation.
But you should certainly make an appointment with us if your tinnitus won’t subside or if it continues to come back. We will ask you about your symptoms, talk to you about how your quality of life is being impacted, do a hearing exam, and most likely discuss your medical history. All of that information will be utilized to diagnose your symptoms.
How is tinnitus treated?
There’s no cure for tinnitus. The strategy is management and treatment.
If you’re using a particular medication or have an underlying medical condition, your symptoms will improve when you address the base cause. However, if you have chronic tinnitus, there will be no root condition that can be easily fixed.
For individuals with chronic tinnitus then, the idea is to manage your symptoms and help ensure your tinnitus doesn’t negatively affect your quality of life. There are lots of things that we can do to help. Here are a few of the most common:
- A masking device: This is a hearing aid-like device that masks sounds instead of amplifying them. These devices can be calibrated to your specific tinnitus symptoms, producing just enough sound to make that ringing or buzzing significantly less noticeable.
- A hearing aid: When you have hearing loss, outside sounds get quieter and your tinnitus symptoms become more obvious. In these situations, 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.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: We might refer you to a different provider for cognitive behavior therapy. This technique uses therapy to help you learn to ignore the tinnitus sounds.
The treatment plan that we devise will be custom-tailored to your specific tinnitus needs. Helping you get back to enjoying your life by managing your symptoms is the goal here.
What should you do if you have tinnitus?
Even though tinnitus is invisible, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Your symptoms will probably get worse if you do. You may be able to prevent your symptoms from worsening if you can get ahead of them. You should at least be sure to have your ear protection handy whenever you’re going to be around loud sound.
If you have tinnitus that won’t go away (or keeps coming back) make an appointment with us to get a diagnosis.
