Tinnitus (pronounced tihnITE-us or TIN’-uh-tus) is the hearing of sound that doesn’t come from a source outside which means that other people can’t hear it.
Tinnitus is often described as a ringing sound but there are other kinds of sounds like a buzzing sound or roar. Tinnitus is quite common and research suggests that 10% to 25% of people suffer from it. Children may also experience tinnitus. Adults and children, the tinnitus can improve or disappear with time, but in certain cases, it becomes worse over time. If tinnitus persists for more than 3 months it’s considered to be chronic.
The reasons behind tinnitus aren’t clear, but most people with it suffer from some form of hearing loss. Tinnitus is rarely caused by a serious medical condition and is generally not serious enough to cause any disruption to your daily routine. However, some individuals notice that it impacts their mood and ability to sleep or focus. In extreme cases, tinnitus can cause depression or anxiety.
At present, there is not a cure for tinnitus however, there are methods to lessen the symptoms. The most common methods comprise the recourse to sound therapy devices (including hearing aids) behavioral therapies and medication.
What are the signs and symptoms of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus symptoms may differ significantly from one person. There may be phantom sounds in one ear, both ears or within your head. The sound phantom may sound like a buzz, roar, ring whistle or click, or sound like squeal. The sound can be loud or soft and can be high or low and high. It could be intermittent or constant. Sometimes you move your neck, head, or your eyes, or touching the body’s parts could cause tinnitus or alter the sound of the sound that you hear. This is called somatosensory (pronounced so-ma-toe-SENSE-uh-ree) tinnitus.
The majority of cases of tinnitus are subjective which means that only you are able to hear the sound. In some cases, it is possible that the sound pulses are usually in sync with the beat of your heart. In these instances, the doctor might be able to detect the sounds using the stethoscope. If that is the case, they will consider it as an objective tinnitus. In most cases, objective tinnitus is caused by an identifiable root cause and can be treated.
What is the cause of the tinnitus?
Although the causes for the tinnitus phenomenon aren’t understood to the fullest extent, however, it is connected to these:
- The exposure to sound. Tinnitus is a common occurrence after exposure to loud sounds in the workplace or during the venue of a concert or event. Tinnitus is the most prevalent service-related impairment for veterans due to the loud sound they might have heard from gunfire or machinery, blasts from bombs, and other sources of similar nature.
- hearing loss. Hearing loss, which can result from things like the aging process as well as exposure to loud sounds is closely connected to tinnitus. Certain people who have hearing loss never experience tinnitus.
- Medicines. Tinnitus can be an adverse effect of certain medicines, particularly if they are used in high doses. Tinnitus-related medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (e.g. Ibuprofen, ibuprofen naproxen, and aspirin) as well as certain antibiotics, anti-cancer medications, anti-malaria medicines and antidepressants.
- Earwax or an inflammation. Blockage of the canal of the ear caused by earwax or the fluid that results caused by an an ear infection may cause tinnitus.
- Neck or head injuries to the neck or head. A head/neck injury may cause damage to structures in the ear, including the nerve that transmits audio signals into the brain or brain regions that process sound, which can cause the sensation of tinnitus.
Tinnitus risk factors that are less common are:
- Meniere’s Disease. Tinnitus can be an indication of Meniere’s disease an inner ear disease that can also lead to balance issues and loss of hearing.
- Jaw joint issues. The joint that connects the lower jaw with the skull is located close to the ear. Grinding or jaw clenching may cause damage to surrounding tissues which can cause or worsen the tinnitus.
- Tumor-related diseases. A vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) is a benign tumor located on a nerve that runs through the inner ear into the brain. Acoustic neuromas as well as other neck, head, and brain tumors may cause the sensation of tinnitus.
- Blood vessel issues. High blood pressure and atherosclerosis as well as malformations of blood vessels specifically when they are located in or near the ear, may alter blood flow and lead to the sensation of tinnitus.
- Chronic diseases. Diabetes, migraines anemia, thyroid problems, and autoimmune diseases like lupus and sclerosis are just a few chronic illnesses that have been connected to tinnitus.
Although there are numerous possible causes for tinnitus there are some who develop it without knowing why.
What causes the perception of sound in the ears?
One of the most popular theories is that tinnitus may result from injury to your inner ear disrupts the way nerves transmit signals to the areas of your brain that process sounds. One way to look at the issue is that although it may appear that tinnitus is happening within your ear, ghost sounds are actually produced by your brain in an area known as the auditory cortex.
Another study suggests that the abnormal connections between the auditory cortex as well as other neural circuits could play a part in the development of tinnitus. The auditory cortex is connected to other brain regions like the ones that control emotions and attention Studies have demonstrated that people suffering from hearing loss have altered non-auditory brain regions.
What are the signs of tinnitus?
If you experience tinnitus, first consult your primary physician, who will examine your ears for earwax or fluid that may result from an ear infection that may block the ear canal. The doctor will also inquire questions about the medical conditions you have in order to discover if an underlying issue or medication could be the cause of your tinnitus.
Then, you could be directed to an Otolaryngologist (commonly known as an ear, nose, and throat doctor or ENT). The ENT will want you to describe your noises of tinnitus, and the date they began and check your neck, head, and ears. You may also be directed to an audiologist who can test your hearing and determine if you have hearing loss.
The ENT might order imaging tests, specifically when your tinnitus is pulsating. Imaging tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound may help determine whether there is a structural issue or underlying medical issue that can be the cause of your tinnitus.
What treatment options can treat tinnitus?
If the tinnitus problem has an underlying physical cause, like jaw joint or earwax issues The root of the problem can significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms. For many the symptoms may last for a long time, or even for years. There are a variety of ways to minimize the impact of Tinnitus. Here are some options your doctor could suggest.
- The use of sound treatments. Sound therapies are built on the belief that tinnitus results from changes in the neural circuits of the brain caused due to hearing loss. There is evidence that suggests exposure to sound could reverse certain neural changes, which can help reduce tinnitus. Sound therapy can also help in a way of masking the tinnitus sound to help you get used to it or distract your attention.
Different types of devices are utilized for sound therapy. These include:
- Tabletop and smartphone sound generators are often employed as a means of rest. When you’re lying in bed, you can set up an engine or set up an app on your smartphone to play soothing sounds like waterfalls, waves rain, and sounds of summer nights. There are other generators of sound, like an air conditioner or a fan. If you have tinnitus that is not too severe it could be the best option to sleep.
- hearing aids are among the primary treatment options available to those with tinnitus and hearing loss. They can amplify external sounds and allow you to better connect with the world as well as make your tinnitus seem less prominent.
- Wearable audio generators are tiny electronic devices that can fit into the ear like hearing aids. They emit soothing, relaxing sounds. Since they’re mobile, they can offer continuous relief from tinnitus all day long. Smartphone apps could also be utilized to create these noises.
- Devices for combination, which fit into the ear as hearing aids, offer the ability to amplify sound and generate sound all in one device. They are a second option to treat tinnitus among those with hearing loss.
- Therapy for behavioral issues. Counseling can improve your overall health by helping lessen the effects of tinnitus in your life.
- Education regarding tinnitus may help reduce stress by helping understand that this condition, is generally likely to be connected to a medical issue. Through therapy, you will discover strategies and coping methods to prevent making your symptoms worse, like keeping your exposure to sounds.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will help you recognize negative thoughts that can cause anxiety. The counselor will help you to modify your responses to negative thoughts and concentrate on positive changes that you can make to lessen the effect of tinnitus on your daily life. Research has shown that this kind of therapy may help enhance the overall health of those suffering from the condition.
- Tinnitus Retraining therapy employs sound and counseling therapy to “retrain” the brain, physically and emotionally in order to make sure you will no longer experience hearing loss. The counseling component of therapy is designed to assist you in reclassifying the tinnitus sound as neutral and the constant low-frequency sound that comes from a device placed within the ear aids you to become accustomed to the sound of the sound of tinnitus.
- Medicines. There are no treatments specifically designed for the tinnitus condition, however, your doctor might prescribe antidepressants or other anxiety medications to boost your mood or assist you in settling. While certain herbal extracts and nutritional supplements are often advertised as remedies for this condition, none has been proven to be efficient.
What kinds of research related to tinnitus are researchers conducting?
Researchers from research centers at National Institutes of Health (NIH) and various research institutes across the nation with a lot of support from NIDCD are working on understanding the causes of tinnitus as well as to devise new strategies for treating it. Research suggests that tinnitus can be caused through changes in neural connections in the brain which is why a number of research efforts are focused on investigating the effectiveness of electrical or magnetic stimulation for the brain.
Here are a few examples of the most recent research areas:
- Electrical stimulation. Cochlear implants have been proven to reduce the sound of tinnitus as well as improve hearing function in people who suffer from severe hearing loss however they’re not suitable for all people suffering from tinnitus who suffer from significant hearing loss due to acoustic. Scientists are experimenting with non-invasive electrical stimulation to certain inner ear parts to block tinnitus without harming the acoustic.
- Bimodal stimulation. Acoustic stimulation may be used in conjunction with other forms of electrical stimulation to the head, tongue neck, or jaw areas or the vagus nerve stimulation to offer long-term relief from tinnitus.
- Repetitive transcranial magnet stimulation (rTMS). In this non-invasive, painless procedure, a few short magnetic pulses are sent to the brain via an instrument known as an electromagnetic coil. The initial trials of rTMS resulted in mixed results, and researchers are currently looking into the optimal coil placement and frequency of visits for patients.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS). This procedure is usually utilized to treat patients suffering from particular kinds of movement disorders or neuropsychiatric disorders. A few patients treated with DBS have found that the treatment was able to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. Contrary to rTMS, DBS is an invasive procedure that requires the surgical procedure of implanting electrodes in the brain. Although early findings on the application of DBS to treat tinnitus are positive, further research is required to determine whether the procedure is appropriate to treat tinnitus on its own.
- Medicines. Although there aren’t any medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat tinnitus researchers are experimenting with a variety of alternatives.
- Researchers have identified a medicine that reduces tinnitus among mice. They are currently working on new versions that could someday prove to be effective for people.
- Researchers are studying the way in which the tinnitus condition is related to the hyperactivity of central auditory nerves following injury to the cochlea, a structure inside the ear which senses the sound. Scientists are investigating the cellular processes that trigger the increased activity and find drugs that could reduce it and alleviate symptoms of tinnitus.
- Generic risk factors. Tinnitus and hearing impairment are common among older adults. Scientists are examining a vast genetic database of patients with hearing loss and tinnitus to determine the genes that are associated with risk for both diseases. Finding genetic connections with hearing loss caused by age and tinnitus can be a significant factor in risk prediction, prevention screening, and treatment.
- Treatment that is personalized. Tinnitus symptoms are varied, with individuals hearing distinct sounds with various patterns. The outcomes of brain imaging research studies in those suffering from tinnitus differ from individual to. Based on data collected from participants in studies who track their tinnitus with an app on their smartphones, along with brain imaging information scientists are trying to identify the various types that this condition could take. They aim to identify distinct tinnitus outlines and find which are the best treatment options for each.
In conclusion,
Those who suffer from reactive tinnitus face an additional set of difficulties in managing the already upsetting symptoms of tinnitus. Important measures in controlling this ailment include identifying the symptoms, comprehending the underlying causes, and investigating the possible therapy alternatives. Reactive tinnitus sufferers may benefit from a multidisciplinary strategy that incorporates lifestyle changes, counseling, and medical intervention to enhance their quality of life. The goal of this field’s study is to create more individualized and efficient methods of treating this intricate auditory phenomenon.
