Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that has no external source. Some of the more common sounds that sufferers report are ringing, humming, buzzing, and chirping (crickets). The sound can be constant or intermittent and is heard in one ear, both ears or in the head. Tinnitus can originate in the middle ear (behind the eardrum) or in the sensorineural auditory system.
Tinnitus is often accompanied by or a result of hearing loss, and can sometimes be associated with sensitivity to moderate and loud sounds. Some 50 million adults suffer from tinnitus, though it can also affect children. For 12 million, the problem is severe enough that it impacts their everyday life (sleep, communication, etc.). Because tinnitus can be a symptom of a more serious disorder, it is important to have an appropriate health evaluation, from an audiologist or physician.
Most Common Causes:
· A natural part of the aging process
· Head injury (i.e. from a car accident or fall)
· Hearing loss
Note: In many cases the cause(s) may be unknown.
Potential Impacts:
Tinnitus affects people differently. The most common areas tinnitus has an impact are:
· Thoughts / emotions - Some are annoyed, bothered, depressed, anxious or angry about their tinnitus. Stress can often lead to an increased perception of the bothersome sound.
· Hearing - In some, the sound of the tinnitus competes with or masks speech or environmental sound perception.
· Sleep - Many tinnitus sufferers report that their tinnitus interferes with them getting to sleep. It can also make it more difficult to get back to sleep when they wake up in the middle of the night.
· Concentration - Some tinnitus sufferers report that they have difficulty focusing on a task because of their tinnitus, particularly in quiet situations (i.e. reading).
Treatment Options:
For most tinnitus sufferers, there is no “cure”. There is no pill or surgery that has been shown to eliminate tinnitus in scientific studies that have been replicated and accepted by the healthcare community.
However, there are some important exceptions to this. Some forms of tinnitus, particularly middle-ear tinnitus, can be treated. Sometimes a medication can cause tinnitus, and changing or discontinuing medications can eliminate the tinnitus (always check with the physician who prescribed the medication before considering this option).
There are also several treatments that can help people adjust to their tinnitus:
· Hearing Loss Treatment – If hearing loss is identified by your audiologist, amplification may be recommended. The use of hearing aids may not only improve communication and reduce the stress associated with intensive listening, but can also partially mask the tinnitus.
· Counseling - Counseling can be beneficial with thoughts and emotions, sleep and concentration. One example of this approach is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), which uses counseling in conjunction with sound therapy to help individuals learn how to manage their bodies reaction to tinnitus and suppress their perception of the sound. In the Syracuse area, TRT services are offered at the Gebbie Hearing Clinic at Syracuse University.
· Sound Therapy - Many tinnitus sufferers report that the presence of background sound reduces the prominence or the loudness of their tinnitus. The background sound can be present in the environment (i.e. fan noise). There are non-wearable devices that produce pleasant background sound (i.e. Sharper Image sound machine). Additionally, wearable maskers or sound generators are available that produce a 'shhh' noise (these can also be combined with hearing aids). Music can also be very effective in non-wearable and wearable devices.
If you or someone you know suffers from tinnitus, contact the primary care provider, an ear, nose and throat specialist or an audiologist as soon as possible to discuss possible causes and treatment options.
Excerpts from:
http://www.betterhearing.org/tinnitus/index.cfm Richard Tyler, PhD - The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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