Invisibility is a very useful power in the movies. Whether it’s a mud-covered hero, a cloaked starship, or a sneaky ninja, invisibility allows characters in movies to be more effectual and, frequently, accomplish the impossible.
Regrettably, invisible health problems are no less potent…and they’re a lot less fun. Tinnitus, for instance, is a very common condition that affects the ears. But there are no outward symptoms, it doesn’t matter how thoroughly you look.
But for individuals who experience tinnitus, though it may be invisible, the affect may be substantial.
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 occasionally hear after a rock concert or in a really silent room? That’s tinnitus. Tinnitus is so common that about 25 million individuals experience it daily.
There are lots of other presentations of tinnitus besides the common ringing. Some people could hear buzzing, crunching, metallic noises, all sorts of things. The common denominator is that anybody who has tinnitus is hearing sounds that aren’t really there.
In most cases, tinnitus will go away quickly. But for somewhere between 2-5 million individuals, tinnitus is a chronic, sometimes debilitating condition. Think about it like this: hearing that ringing in your ears for a few minutes is annoying, but you can occupy yourself easily and move on. But what if that sound doesn’t go away? it’s not hard to see how that might begin to substantially impact your quality of life.
Tinnitus causes
Have you ever attempted to identify the cause of a headache? Maybe it’s stress; maybe you’re getting a cold; maybe it’s allergies. A number of things can cause a headache and that’s the challenge. The symptoms of tinnitus, though rather common, also have a wide variety of causes.
The cause of your tinnitus symptoms may, in some cases, be obvious. In other cases, you may never really know. Generally speaking, however, tinnitus might be caused by the following:
- Ear infections or other blockages: Swelling of the ear canal can be generated by things like seasonal allergies, a cold, or an ear infection. As a result, your ears might begin to ring.
- Hearing loss: There is a close relationship between tinnitus and hearing loss. In part, that’s because noise damage can also be a direct contributor to sensorineural hearing loss. They both have the same cause, in other words. But the ringing in your ears can seem louder with hearing loss because the external world is quieter.
- Noise damage: Damage from loud noises can, over time, cause tinnitus symptoms to develop. This is so common that loud noises are one of the leading causes of tinnitus! The best way to counter this type of tinnitus is to stay away from overly loud places (or wear hearing protection if avoidance isn’t possible).
- Certain medications: Some over-the-counter or prescription medicines can cause you to have ringing in your ears. Once you stop using the medication, the ringing will normally subside.
- Meniere’s Disease: A good number of symptoms can be caused by this disorder of the inner ear. Tinnitus and dizziness are amongst the first symptoms to manifest. Irreversible hearing loss can happen over time.
- High blood pressure: For some people, tinnitus might be the result of high blood pressure. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor in order to help manage your blood pressure.
- Head or neck injuries: Your head is pretty sensitive! So head injuries, particularly traumatic brain injuries (including concussions)–can end up causing tinnitus symptoms.
- Colds or allergies: If a lot of mucus accumulates in your ears, it might cause some swelling. This inflammation can cause tinnitus.
If you’re able to identify the cause of your tinnitus, treating it could become simpler. clearing away a blockage, for instance, will ease tinnitus symptoms if that’s what is causing them. Some people, however, might never identify what’s causing their tinnitus symptoms.
How is tinnitus diagnosed?
Tinnitus that only lasts a few minutes isn’t something that you really need to have diagnosed. Having said that, it’s never a bad idea to check in with us to schedule a hearing screening.
But you should certainly make an appointment with us if your tinnitus won’t subside or if it continues to come back. We will execute a hearing exam, talk to you about your symptoms and how they’re affecting your life, and perhaps even talk about your medical history. Your symptoms can then be diagnosed utilizing this insight.
How is tinnitus treated?
There’s no cure for tinnitus. But it can be addressed and it can be controlled.
If you’re taking a particular medication or have a root medical condition, your symptoms will improve when you address the underlying cause. However, if you have chronic tinnitus, there will be no underlying condition that can be easily addressed.
So controlling symptoms so they have a minimal impact on your life is the objective if you have persistent tinnitus. We can help in a variety of ways. Among the most common are the following:
- A hearing aid: Sometimes, tinnitus becomes obvious because your hearing loss is making everything else relatively quieter. The buzzing or ringing will be less noticeable when your hearing aid boosts the volume of the outside world.
- A masking device: This is a hearing aid-like device that masks sounds instead of boosting them. These devices create exactly the right amount and type of sound to make your distinct tinnitus symptoms fade into the background.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: We may refer you to another provider for cognitive behavior therapy. This is a therapeutic strategy designed to help you not notice the ringing in your ears.
The treatment plan that we formulate will be custom-tailored to your specific tinnitus requirements. The goal will be to help you manage your symptoms so that you can go back to enjoying your life!
What should you do if you have tinnitus?
Tinnitus may be invisible, but the last thing you should do is pretend it isn’t there. Chances are, those symptoms will only grow worse. 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 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) schedule an appointment with us to get a diagnosis.