It’s very common for people to experience tinnitus. Something like 20 million individuals regularly suffer from persistent tinnitus so severe that it becomes burdensome. And there are also more common presentations of tinnitus which are a lot more mild and sporadic and are also easier to deal with.
Tinnitus occurs when you hear a phantom noise, when you’re hearing a sound that no one else can hear. This could be a ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound you can’t get rid of. Although hearing loss is frequently associated with tinnitus, there isn’t necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship between the two.
As a matter of fact, tinnitus comes in a number of forms. And each one will call for a different treatment approach.
Tinnitus – exactly what is it?
So, what is tinnitus and where does it come from? Well, it’s important to note that not all kinds of tinnitus are the same. The assorted causes of tinnitus will manifest with similar symptoms. But determining the cause can be crucial to finding the best treatment strategy.
For some individuals, tinnitus is the outcome of a neurological problem, such as a traumatic brain injury or a concussion. Hearing loss due to age can be another aspect that can cause tinnitus. The following are some other possible causes:
- Neurological tinnitus: Tinnitus is not always caused by ear issues. The brain itself can sometimes be the cause. Neurological tinnitus is a result of injury to or issues with your baseline neurological functions. This means that the standard communication between your brain and ears isn’t working properly. The result is that you hear a phantom sound that may not be there. A stroke, concussion, or brain injury can all be the underlying causes of tinnitus, as well as others. As the brain heals, neurological tinnitus will, in some situations, clear up on its own. It may be irreversible in other circumstances.
- Subjective tinnitus: When only you can hear the sound of your tinnitus, which is very common, hearing specialists will talk about your condition as a subjective tinnitus. Lots of other forms of tinnitus also fall into this category. Neurological tinnitus, for example, is often also subjective tinnitus. There are a large number of sounds that can manifest with subjective tinnitus, including buzzing, ringing, screeching, roaring, thumping, and many others.
- Objective tinnitus: With objective tinnitus, you’re hearing a real, verifiable, objective sound. Objective tinnitus is not quite as common as subjective tinnitus, but it still happens. Pulsatile tinnitus, which is when you hear your heartbeat or pulse, is an example of this form of tinnitus. For people with objective tinnitus, that pulsing sound typically seems louder than it should.
- Somatic tinnitus: Tinnitus sounds are often rather constant for many people coping with them. Both objective and subjective tinnitus have this characteristic. With somatic tinnitus though, things are a bit different. This type of tinnitus becomes more severe when you move around. Typically, somatic tinnitus is most sensitive to movement of the head or neck areas.
Often, individuals will have more than one form of tinnitus simultaneously. For example, you might have neurological tinnitus and subjective tinnitus. In order for us to put together a treatment plan, we will first need to identify the underlying cause of your tinnitus.
Finding tinnitus support
You probably won’t need 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 coming back. That’s when it’s especially important to talk to a hearing specialist to get specialized care and find some tinnitus relief.
After we identify the root cause of your symptoms, there are a few treatment strategies we can utilize. A few of these strategies can minimize the severity of your symptoms making them less obvious. Other treatment solutions can mask the sound you’re hearing.
Tinnitus can’t typically be cured, but it can be successfully managed. We will help you personalize the best treatment for your particular situation. That way, you can more easily ignore the buzzing or ringing in your ears, and get back to the life you love.