Understanding Tinnitus: What It Is and Treatments Available

tinnitus

Author: Liam Hickson, Victorian Hearing Audiologist

Tinnitus is a sound in the ears that can only be heard by the individual. It is defined as a ‘phantom noise’ that lasts for more than a minute.

Tinnitus can sound different to everyone; ringing, buzzing, hissing, a combination of sounds, or something entirely unique. It is not always permanent, although people with permanent tinnitus learn to adapt to it over time. Tinnitus is a very common phenomenon, and most people will experience some form of tinnitus in their lifetime. There are lots of reasons why tinnitus happens, and the majority of causes for tinnitus are harmless and no cause for concern.

Most people don’t know that the ears are ‘always on’; which means that the brain is always receiving information from our ears, whether there is an actual sound heard or not. This baseline neural activity is a sort of ‘brain static,’ which we can become aware of under the right circumstances.

This makes tinnitus not a disease, but a symptom of some other issue. Some of common reasons for hearing tinnitus are:

  • Changes in mental health; stress, anxiety, depressive episodes, and trauma. The brain naturally filters unwanted sounds in our surroundings to help us focus, but stress can deactivate this neural pathway, leading to the tinnitus sound becoming a more prominent noise than it’s supposed to be.
  • Hearing changes and ear health changes:
    ◦ Excessive wax build-up in the ear canal.
    ◦ Ear infections.
    ◦ Sudden hearing loss.
    ◦ Genetic conditions.
  • ‘Ringing’ in the ears following exposure to loud noise (eg. Loud music or parties) for extended periods of time. Loud activities can cause hearing to change temporarily before returning back to normal after 24 hours.
  • Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.Issues with the jaw (TMJ disorder) or neck.

Eight Signs that Tinnitus is Becoming a Problem:

1. It sounds louder, more frequent, or more annoying than before
2. It is harder to control, ignore, or cope with it.
3. The tinnitus noise is preventing restful sleep.
4. Concentrating or focusing on other tasks is harder when hearing tinnitus.
5. Tinnitus interferes with relaxing activities or ‘winding down’.
6. Feeling more bothered, depressed or anxious about the tinnitus.
7. Increased difficulty enjoying social activities, work or other tasks when the tinnitus is present.
8. It impacts hearing clearly or understanding conversations.

Don’t Be Mistaken- Tinnitus vs Transient Ear Noise

Transient Ear Noise, or TRN, is the temporary appearance of a sudden ‘pinging’ sound in one ear that lasts for a few seconds before fading out again. It can be associated with a slight change in hearing or blocked feeling at the same time. Many people confuse TRN with actual tinnitus, but it’s actually not! We don’t know for sure, but we think that it’s caused by a random middle ear muscle spasm or spontaneous emission of sound from the inner ear.

Is There a Cure For Tinnitus?

As tinnitus is an internal noise that the brain can disproportionately fixate on, there is no ‘cure’ for tinnitus. What can be helpful to those with problematic tinnitus is discussing ways to manage it better so that it becomes less of a threat, less annoying, and easier to deal with when it flares up. An audiologist can be helpful with tinnitus management because they are experts in hearing health and can guide people with tinnitus to a treatment that works for them

What Tinnitus Treatments are Available?

  • Audiologists can perform a hearing assessment with an idea to determine if the tinnitus is due to noise damage or other types of ear conditions.
  • Knowledge is power: understanding the mechanisms behind how tinnitus changes from a ‘sometimes audible’ to an ‘always audible’ noise can help people know their tinnitus triggers. This then helps people discover ways to soothe the tinnitus, manage flare-ups, and eventually coexist with it.
  • Provide trustworthy information, helping patients avoid unreliable sources of information online promising tinnitus cures.
  •  Suggest ways of managing the tinnitus better, including
    ◦ Sound generation apps to help “mask” the tinnitus.
    ◦ Tailored sound therapy programs for encouraging the brain to rewire over time to improve its ability to ignore the tinnitus.
  • Refer to other medical specialists for further investigation and interventions (eg. ENT specialists, psychologists, dentists, and physiotherapists).

Tinnitus Help Is Available

If you feel like tinnitus is becoming an issue for you or a loved one, please contact the team at Victorian Hearing for more advice on tinnitus treatments available.

With eleven clinics across Melbourne, you’re sure to find a friendly smile and expert support from the dedicated team at Victorian Hearing. Call (03) 9558 8842 or book online.