What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the medical term used to describe the perception of sounds in the ears when there is no external sound source.
The word tinnitus comes from Latin, ‘clinking or sounding like a bell’, pathologically speaking, hearing sounds when there is no physical sound present.
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a condition with various causes, i.e. there is no direct cause but can develop from the existence of multiple factors.
The perceived sounds vary from different people and may be permanent, or come and go on a temporary basis.
In addition, can occur in either ear as well as both ears with an interchanging presence in each ear.
Some tinnitus sufferers can’t clearly determine what ear is affected, perceive the sound as coming from all sides at once.
There are two types of tinnitus:
- Subjective tinnitus: is the most common, where sounds are heard only by the patient.
- Objective tinnitus: Where sounds can also be heard by a physician examining the patient with an instrument.
What Do People With Tinnitus Hear?
Tinnitus is usually described as a beep in the ears. However, those affected can hear several different sounds:
- Beep
- Ring
- Buzz
- Zoom
- Hiss
- Blow
- Chirp
- Murmur
- Patter
- Whistle
- Purr
Some people may even hear sounds similar to a song, which is described as Musical Tinnitus, while other people can hear a beep that goes to the beat of their pulse, which is called Pulsatile Tinnitus.
If you are experiencing tinnitus, you may have noticed that your listening capacity is not as good as it used to be or that sensitivity to everyday sounds has increased. This phenomenon is known as hyperacusis.
The hyperacusis makes us feel as though everyday sounds are amplified, which as a result can cause significant annoyance (in my case, when I developed tinnitus, I had hyperacusis for 4 weeks and the simple sound dishes being placed on the table resembled the deafening noise of banging a drum near my ear).
Is It Serious?
Generally, tinnitus does not entail any other serious illness, and for some people it can come and go only as a minor nuisance.
However, it can sometimes be an acute and chronic condition, and have a significant impact on the daily life of those who suffer from it.
In very severe cases, it can generate stress, inability to concentrate and lead to more serious conditions such as insomnia and depression. Although, in these cases, these conditions are not generated by the tinnitus itself but because of the patient’s response to it.
In a large number of cases, tinnitus improves gradually over time, but it is important to seek medical advice to examine whether there is no underlying cause that needs to be treated, and also to receive general coping mechanisms for this condition.
Unfortunately, today this condition is not yet given the attention it deserves and in most cases, the patient is not advised to begin therapies that might well help them understand their condition and feel less helpless.
Therefore, you must be the person in charge of looking for further help. In your community you can find support groups, therapies and courses that are very helpful and really make a positive difference in your attitude towards coping with your tinnitus.
When to Visit a Doctor?
You should see your healthcare provider if you regularly or continuously hear sounds such as beeps, buzzing, or whistling.
Visit your primary care physician who will perform an initial examination of your ears to determine if the condition may be caused by an ear infection or a simple wax cap that can be quickly removed. You may also be tested for hearing loss.
If your doctor considers it necessary, you may be referred to the hospital to see the otolaryngologist specialist for a more thorough analysis, which may include tests such as an audiometry or a cervical CT scan.
You can also visit a private specialist you will more than likely receive an appointment sooner, although the tests and diagnosis will be practically the same.
Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can develop over time or suddenly, however the cause of this condition is still widely unclear.
Although tinnitus involves some degree of hearing loss, experts have reached the conclusion that this is linked to a physical and mental defect rather than a hearing related cause.
The causes of tinnitus are associated with the following factors:
- Cerumen plug (wax)
- Infection of the middle ear, located just behind the eardrum
- Age-related hearing loss
- Damage to the inner ear or labyrinth, found within the temporal bone, caused by prolonged exposure to loud music
- Use of certain medicines
- Ménière’s disease, a condition that causes hearing loss and vertigo
- Otosclerosis, hereditary condition where abnormal growth of the bone in the middle ear causes
- Stress
Who Does it Affect?
A large number of people have experienced short periods of tinnitus on occasion, due to exposure to loud music, for example at concerts, clubs or bars.
It is estimated that about 30% of the population will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives, however the number of people living with acute tinnitus that can affect their daily lives in some degree is around 10% to 20%. This alarming statistic translates to about 1 billion people in the world, who will never hear the sound of silence again.
- In Spain, it is estimated that 12% of the population suffer from tinnitus, which is about 5 million people.
- In Argentina, 10% of the population have tinnitus, that is to say, about 4 million Argentinians.
- In the United States, the figure rises to 15%, which is more than 50 million people suffering from ear beeps.
- In the UK, severe tinnitus affects 6 million people, 10% of the population.
In addition, tinnitus affects people from all different backgrounds and, although more common in people over 65 years, affects people of all ages, including children (a hearing specialist who I visited in London suffered from Tinnitus since childhood).
(Note: go to this article to read “30 celebrities who suffer from tinnitus (just like you)”)
The effects of this condition vary from person to person, with many sufferers claiming the effects are only minor, whereas other sufferers can even end up developing depression as a result of their tinnitus.
In these cases, it is important to seek professional help to find strategies that can show you a way to live with it without affecting the rest of your life.
Tinnitus Treatment
There is currently no official cure for tinnitus and the medical community is still in the research phase of what its causes are and how to treat it effectively.
Now, this is not to say that it cannot be cured. For example, in cases where Tinnitus develops as a by-product of another underlying condition (e.g. ear infection), the tinnitus will disappear as the
underlying cause heals.
However, in cases where there is no direct cause (e.g. wax plugs or infection), the treatment of tinnitus will focus on reducing the intensity of sounds perceived by the sufferers and helping the patient learn to live with their condition in daily life.
The potential treatments are:
- Sound therapy: therapy based on listening to neutral sounds that distract sufferers from the ringing.
- Psychological therapy: individual or group therapy to educate the sufferer on how to deal with tinnitus in an effective way.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): aimed at helping to change the way the sufferer perceives their tinnitus so you notice it less.
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): focused on training the way the brain responds to tinnitus so it can block the ringing and become less sensitive to them.
Alternative treatments can also be:
- Relaxation Techniques
- Basic measures of sleep hygiene
- Meditation
- Self-help books
- Alternative medicine (also called Holistic medicine) – e.g. Chinese medicine
- Personal growth workshops.
If you suspect you might have tinnitus, ask your GP or doctor for advice on what steps to take.
Sources:
NHS, United Kingdom Health Service
BTA, British Tinnitus Association
ATA, American Tinnitus Association