Tinnitus is an exceptionally common condition of the ear. Some estimates indicate that 10 percent of people experience tinnitus at one time or another, making it one of the most common health conditions in the world. Although the most common manifestation of tinnitus is a phantom ringing or buzzing in your ear, it can also present as other sounds as well.
While the prevalence of tinnitus may be obvious, the causes are frequently more opaque. In part, that’s because tinnitus could result from a wide variety of causes, some of which are temporary and others that can be more permanent.
That’s why your environment can be really important. After all, every setting has a soundscape, and when that soundscape is loud, you could be doing damage to your ears. If your tinnitus is a result of damage, it may end up being permanent.
What is tinnitus (and why is it so prevalent)?
When you hear sounds that aren’t actually present, that’s tinnitus. For the majority of people, tinnitus manifests as a buzzing or ringing, but it may perhaps also present as thumping, humming, screeching, or other noises as well. The sounds are typically rhythmic in nature. For most people, tinnitus will happen over a short period of time before solving itself and going away. Though not as common, chronic tinnitus is effectively permanent.
Tinnitus is so common for a couple of reasons. Firstly, environmental factors that can play a role in tinnitus are fairly prevalent. The second reason is that tinnitus is frequently a symptom of an underlying condition or injury. And there are quite a few conditions and injuries that can result in tinnitus. Tinnitus is rather common for these reasons.
How can the environment impact tinnitus?
There are a large number of factors that can bring about tinnitus symptoms, including ototoxic chemicals and medicines. But when it involves “environmental” triggers, noise is the biggest offender. For example, some locations are louder than others (traffic noise in some areas can get extraordinarily high). Someone would be in danger of environmental tinnitus, for example, if they worked around loud industrial equipment.
When evaluating the state of your health, these environmental factors are extremely significant.
Noise induced damage, as with hearing loss, can trigger tinnitus symptoms. When tinnitus is due to noise damage, it’s typically chronic and frequently permanent. Here are a few of the most prevalent noise-related causes of tinnitus:
- Traffic: You might not even recognize how loud traffic can be in densely populated locations. And noise damage can occur at a lower volume than you might expect. Tinnitus and hearing damage can be the result of long commutes in these loud locations.
- Music: Many people will frequently listen to their music at loud volumes. Doing this on a consistent basis can frequently trigger tinnitus symptoms.
- Noise in the workplace: Lots of workplaces, including offices, are frequently the source of loud noises. Tinnitus can eventually result from being in these settings for eight hours a day, whether it’s industrial equipment or the din of lots of people talking in an office.
- Events: If noise is loud enough, even over short intervals, tinnitus can sometimes be the outcome. For instance, going to a concert or using firearms can both lead to tinnitus if the volumes get to a high enough level.
People frequently mistakenly believe hearing damage will only happen at extreme volume levels. As a result, it’s essential to use hearing protection before you think you may need it. Hearing protection can help you avoid tinnitus symptoms from developing in the first place.
What should I do if I have tinnitus?
Will tinnitus go away by itself? Maybe, in some cases. In other cases, your symptoms may be irreversible. At first, it’s basically impossible to tell which is which. If you have tinnitus because of noise damage, even if your tinnitus does clear up, your chance of having your tinnitus return and become chronic is much more probable.
One of the most significant contributing factors to the advancement of tinnitus is that individuals tend to underestimate the volume at which damage happens to their ears. If you experience tinnitus, your body is telling you that damage has already likely happened. This means that there are several things that you should do to change your environment so as to prevent more permanent damage.
For instance, you could try:
- Wearing hearing protection (either earplugs or earmuffs) in order to counter damage. Noise canceling headphones can also be an asset in this regard.
- Reducing the volume of your environment where possible. For instance, you could shut the windows if you live in a loud area or turn off industrial machinery that is not in use.
- If you’re in a noisy environment, limit the amount of exposure time and give your ears rests.
How to deal with your symptoms
The symptoms of tinnitus are often a big distraction and are quite unpleasant for most individuals who deal with them. This prompts them to attempt to find a way to ease the severity of their symptoms.
You should give us a call for an appointment if you’re hearing a persistent buzzing or ringing in your ears. We can help you figure out the best way to address your specific situation. For the majority of cases of chronic tinnitus, there’s no cure. Here are a few ways to manage the symptoms:
- Masking device: This is a device that fits similarly to a hearing aid and plays sounds to mask your symptoms. The precise calibration of your device will depend on your specific symptoms.
- Hearing aid: The ringing or buzzing created by tinnitus can be drowned out by raising the volume of external sounds with hearing aids.
- White noise devices: Utilizing a white noise device around your house can help you tune out your tinnitus in some instances.
- Retraining therapy: In some cases, you can work with a specialist to retrain your ears, slowly modifying the way you process sound.
- Relaxation techniques: High blood pressure has sometimes been linked to an increase in the severity of tinnitus symptoms. So taking a little time to relax (with meditation, for instance) can sometimes help decrease your tinnitus symptoms.
Tinnitus is not curable. That’s why controlling your environment to safeguard your hearing is a great first step.
But treating and controlling tinnitus is possible. Depending on your lifestyle, your hearing, and your tinnitus, we’ll be able to develop a specific treatment plan for you. For some, dealing with your tinnitus might simply mean utilizing a white noise machine. For others, management might be more demanding.
Learn how to best control your tinnitus by making an appointment right away!