Tinnitus Facts - Knowledge Is Power
Nothing is as scary as a thing that you don’t understand. Once you learn what is causing the tinnitus that you or a loved one is experiencing, you are taking the first step to making the changes that will help you to treat it.
What is Tinnitus?
Even though tinnitus usually begins with a hearing loss, the problem is not exclusive to the ears. It is the result of neurological mis-fires in the auditory system and within the parts of the brain that affect your conscious thoughts and emotions.
Every case of tinnitus is unique, but there are some commonly accepted explanations for its cause.
In our brains, there is neurological activity occurring all of the time. Normally, this activity is “masked” by everyday sounds.
When something happens to alter the natural balance of activity (such as a hearing loss, head trauma, etc…), the neurological activity is changed and the brain interprets this activity as sound. This could be a rustling, whistling or ringing sound—and it is this sound that it known as tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus?
There are many documented causes of tinnitus. Common causes include:
• Exposure to excessive or loud noise
• Hearing loss
• Aging
• Ototoxic drugs
• Temporo-mandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Lyme disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Ear infection
• Head trauma
What Are the Effects of Untreated Tinnitus?
The events listed above alter the normal neurologic activity in the brain, causing the perceived sound to become prevalent and disturbing. For most people, this is a new and troubling sound, so the brain focuses on it. This increased awareness can be stressful—leading to even increased awareness and amplification of the tinnitus.
When tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, the brain tries to compensate for the hearing loss by “turning up” the sensitivity of the hearing system. This not only makes the tinnitus appear louder, but can make other normal sounds appear too loud as well. The result of this process is a cycle of symptoms that can worsen over time.
Many people find that eventually their brains learn to deal with the tinnitus and it either goes away or becomes less prevalent.
However, a significant portion of people who experience tinnitus are not able to manage it on their own. They may experience sleep-deprivation, depression, decreased enjoyment of life, inability to concentrate and social withdrawal. Fortunately, help is available. Click here to proceed to step two—the Tinnitus Management Self-Evaluation.
Click here to view a 3-D video tour of the ear
Want to Learn More?
Click here to learn about the types and causes of hearing loss.
Click here to take a “Hearing Assessment Quiz.”
Click here to learn what happens during a hearing screening appointment.
Click here to learn about digital hearing instruments.
Click here to compare the various levels of digital hearing aid technology.
Timpanogos Audiology