6 Facts and Findings You Need to Know About Tinnitus

Tinnitus is one of the most common hearing conditions around; according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control, over 50 million Americans experience the condition. While the vast majority of people affected by tinnitus are over fifty and also have hearing loss, this isn’t always the case. 

Tinnitus is also common in younger people because the hearing system can be damaged by exposure to sudden loud noises or persistent loud noises. Listening to devices at high volumes, for instance, can cause tinnitus, but there are effective treatments for tinnitus at any stage. Read on to find out more about this common hearing condition. 

1. Tinnitus has two main types 

Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing or buzzing in the ear; it is normally related to hearing loss when the brain’s auditory systems compensate for the sounds it should be able to hear but can’t. This is called non-pulsatile tinnitus. But there is another main form of tinnitus. 

Pulsatile tinnitus is not related to hearing loss, instead, the background noise results from the vascular system, people can hear the sound of their blood vessels in their ears, or they can hear their heartbeat. It points to an issue with the vascular system and is a much less common form.    

2. Tinnitus is related to hearing loss

For the most part, tinnitus is related to hearing loss; as the hearing system starts to deteriorate with age, or the cilia hairs are damaged due to a sudden loud noise, the brain fails to receive the sound signals expected. In response, the brain compensates for gaps by creating some noise. 

If you have non-pulsatile tinnitus, you might have a low-frequency ringing or buzz in your hearing; this is usually more audible when you are in a quiet environment because louder background noises tend to drown it out. Hearing devices also help to drown out the sound.

3. Tinnitus can be treated 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus, at least not yet, but the good news is that the majority of tinnitus experiences resolve themselves after a short period. This is especially true when someone experiences noise-related tinnitus when the hearing system is temporarily shocked.  

While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are many effective treatments for any stage of the condition. One simple treatment is stress reduction which reduces blood flow and background noise. An audiologist might also recommend a hearing device that blends the background noise. 

4. Tinnitus can be avoided

Tinnitus is common in people over the age of fifty because it is closely related to hearing loss, but it’s also common in people who are exposed to loud noises in their place of work or people who listen to music or audiobooks at high volume. In most cases, it can be reduced or avoided. 

To protect yourself from tinnitus and hearing loss, look after your hearing in your lifestyle; if you work in a noisy environment, consider investing in some earplugs. Other useful practices include wearing noise protection when using loud garden tools and listening to devices at low volumes. 

5. Stress affects tinnitus

The tinnitus condition might have a physiological cause, but stress reduction can help to alleviate the symptoms, according to research. It’s been found that tinnitus is exacerbated by stress because it increases blood flow to the brain. This also occurs in non-pulsatile tinnitus.   

The good news is that the condition can be effectively reduced using mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Using breathing techniques and modified approaches, it’s easier to manage and less intrusive; talk to an audiologist for more information.  

6. New treatments are emerging 

While there is still no cure for any type of tinnitus, there are plenty of effective treatments. These treatments range from mindfulness techniques to advanced hearing devices that can eliminate undesirable sounds. However, new research is uncovering innovative treatments all the time. 

Hearing aids are one of the most commonly recommended treatments for tinnitus because they can be equipped with masking features to help drown out the unwanted sounds. When used in tandem with tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), many individuals see a large improvement in their quality of life.

Whether you experience tinnitus or don’t, it’s a good idea to have some knowledge of the condition so that you know the signs when they present; additionally, understanding tinnitus helps you protect your hearing in your everyday life and avoid tinnitus developing. If you think you may be experiencing tinnitus and want to learn more about your treatment options, the team at Hear Here Audiology would be happy to help you – just give us a call at 727-289-1212.