Millions of people across the country experience tinnitus – a condition characterized by a persistent ringing or humming in the ears. Tinnitus is often transient – that is, it only lasts a few minutes, hours or days. However, for some patients, it is chronic, meaning that it goes on indefinitely.
Tinnitus is a strange condition in many ways, and this fact has led to a number of misunderstandings about it. In this post, we take a look at some of the most common myths so that you can approach a tinnitus diagnosis armed with the truth.
Myth 1: Tinnitus only affects people with hearing loss
Tinnitus is more common in people with hearing loss. However, they are not the only ones affected by the disease. In fact, it can periodically affect anyone during their lives.
Tinnitus sometimes doesn’t have any cause at all. You may notice that your ears suddenly “click” at random and then you hear a humming noise.
You can also experience tinnitus after exposure to loud noises, such as aircraft taking off or concert music. High-energy sound waves disrupt the workings of the inner ear, causing the biochemical feedback believed to be responsible for buzzing and ringing.
If you’ve experienced tinnitus but believe that you have normal hearing, it is still worth getting your ears tested by a trained audiologist. You may discover that you have mild hearing loss – something that you can correct with hearing aids.
Myth 2: You can’t do anything about tinnitus
Many people view tinnitus as a permanent, chronic condition. Once you get it, there is no way to get rid of it. However, again, that is not entirely true. While some people experience tinnitus for the rest of their lives, others find ways to treat it so that it goes away.
For instance, wearing hearing aids can reduce tinnitus symptoms. Enhanced audio signals prevent tinnitus sounds from dominating, providing relief. Other options include white noise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to treat the psychological aspects of the condition.
Some people experience periodic tinnitus. Some days are better than others.
Myth 3: Tinnitus is benign
The idea that tinnitus is benign is another myth. While the condition doesn’t cause physical harm to the body, it can affect people psychologically. For many, the constant ringing in the ears is a source of distress. Tinnitus can also adversely affect sleep which then leads to a host of other complications. Those with insomnia are much more likely to experience daytime tiredness, stress, and may even develop chronic diseases, such as diabetes.
Tinnitus may also be a sign of another underlying health condition, not just hearing loss. Ringing in the ears is more common among people with acoustic neuroma, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Again, if you think that your tinnitus is the result of another underlying medical condition, you should speak to a professional audiologist.
Myth 4: Tinnitus is a disease
While tinnitus might seem like a disease, that is not the correct way to think about it. Tinnitus is often a symptom of another underlying condition. In many cases, that underlying condition is hearing loss but, as we have seen, there are many other causes too. Tinnitus is associated with cerebral issues, vascular disease and even brain injuries.
You can also develop tinnitus in response to certain medications. For example, some commonly prescribed blood pressure medications and antidepressants may cause ringing in the ears as a side effect.
Unfortunately, there is no outright cure for tinnitus. However, as discussed above, there are many treatment options, all of which can relieve symptoms and help to restore your life back to normal. In many cases, you can make the symptoms better by addressing the underlying disease.
Myth 5: Tinnitus is all psychological
There are two types of tinnitus: one caused by the physical generation of sound close to the ear (usually by a passing blood vessel) and one that is the result of self-generated sounds in the brain. Therefore, in a sense, tinnitus is always “in your head.” However, to call it purely psychological is not entirely accurate. While most patients with tinnitus are hallucinating sounds that are not there, it is still a real part of their experience.
A better way of thinking about tinnitus is to describe it as a symptom of the brain. Sometimes the brain works flawlessly and doesn’t generate sounds by itself. However, other times, it can become confused and create sounds that aren’t there. There can also be another medical condition driving the tinnitus elsewhere in the body.
If you would like to learn more about tinnitus and how to treat it, please contact the The Hearing Center at York ENT by calling (717) 850-9269.
