Tinnitus is an incredibly prevalent medical condition. Around 20 million people regularly cope with chronic tinnitus so intense that it becomes burdensome. And there are also more prevalent presentations of tinnitus which are a lot more mild and sporadic and are also easier to deal with.
When you hear noises in your ears that don’t have an external source and nobody else can hear them, that’s tinnitus. This might be a ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound you can’t get rid of. Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, but that doesn’t mean that one condition will automatically result in the other.
As a matter of fact, tinnitus comes in numerous forms. And each one will require a different treatment approach.
Tinnitus – exactly what is it?
So, what is tinnitus and where does it stem from? Well, it’s significant to note that not all types of tinnitus are the same. Regardless of the specific cause, the symptoms will be similar. But it’s still crucial to identify the cause in order to successfully treat the symptoms.
For some people, tinnitus is the result of a neurological issue, like a traumatic brain injury or a concussion. Hearing loss related to age can be another aspect that can trigger tinnitus. The following are some other potential causes:
- Neurological tinnitus: Problems with the ear aren’t always the cause of tinnitus. The brain itself can sometimes be the source. Neurological tinnitus is caused by injury to or issues with your baseline neurological functions. This means that the typical communication between your brain and ears isn’t functioning properly. As a result, a phantom noise is heard which isn’t actually there. Neurological tinnitus can be due to concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and others. In some instances, neurological tinnitus might go away as the brain heals. For others, it may be permanent.
- Subjective tinnitus: With subjective tinnitus, the sound you’re hearing is phantom and doesn’t objectively exist and only you can hear it. This type of tinnitus comprises many other forms of tinnitus as well. Neurological tinnitus, for instance, is frequently also subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus can present as many different sound types, including ringing, buzzing, squeals, whistles, roars, and others.
- Objective tinnitus: When the sound you’re hearing in your ears is a real, verifiable sound, it’s known as objective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus does happen, though it’s not as common as subjective forms. Pulsatile tinnitus, which is when you hear your heartbeat or pulse, is an example of this type of tinnitus. For those with objective tinnitus, that pulsing sound typically seems louder than it should.
- Somatic tinnitus: Tinnitus sounds are frequently rather constant for many individuals coping with them. That’s true for both subjective and objective tinnitus. But, somatic tinnitus is different. This is tinnitus that grows worse with movement. Typically, somatic tinnitus is most susceptible to movement of the head or neck areas.
The majority of these forms of tinnitus aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. You may have subjective tinnitus and neurological tinnitus together, for example. In order for us to put together a treatment plan, we will first need to determine the root cause of your tinnitus.
Finding tinnitus assistance
You probably won’t have to take any specific action if your tinnitus symptoms are sporadic. But your quality of life can be significantly impacted if your tinnitus symptoms are fairly constant or keep returning. That’s when it’s especially important to speak with a hearing specialist to get specialized care and find some tinnitus relief.
After we determine the underlying cause of your symptoms, there are a few treatment methods we can use. A few of these strategies can decrease the intensity of your symptoms making them less obvious. We may also utilize masking techniques to hide your symptoms.
Tinnitus can’t generally be cured, but it can be effectively managed. We will help you customize the best treatment for your specific situation. This will help you enjoy life again by moving your symptoms into the background where they can be more easily disregarded.