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As the ever growing clamor around us seems to get louder each year, it’s no wonder we all long for a little more peace and quiet. But imagine that true silence continually eludes you. And we don’t mean that it’s hard to find time alone.
People with tinnitus, a condition where people hear sound when none is present, live with a ‘ringing in the ears’ that prevents them from experiencing the calm of true quiet.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus doesn’t contain itself to only a ringing sound. Some people hear buzzing, whooshing, clicking or roaring in their ears. What is particularly frustrating about the condition is that it’s a sound only the person with symptoms hears. No external sound is causing them to hear it, and so, it’s not a noise you can turn off or escape from.
The prevalence of tinnitus
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine recently discovered that almost one in 10 American adults experience tinnitus. Using data from nearly 80,000 respondents, they estimate that the reach of tinnitus is far deeper than previously thought.
More than one-third of those living with tinnitus, more than one-third reported symptoms that were essentially constant while just over a quarter reported that their tinnitus has lasted for more than fifteen years.
Most people with tinnitus have hearing loss
Tinnitus itself is not a disease. Rather, tinnitus is a symptom of another condition. In a vast majority of cases, tinnitus is caused by some manner of hearing loss. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, 90 percent of people who have tinnitus can point to hearing loss as the underlying cause. However, though most people with tinnitus also have hearing loss, many people do live with hearing loss and never experience any tinnitus symptoms.
The study from the University of California, Irvine found that those who were often exposed to loud noises at work and during leisure activities reported higher rates of tinnitus. This strengthens the understanding that exposure to excessively loud noises contributes to tinnitus symptoms.
As you can imagine, tinnitus is an extremely annoying set of symptoms to live with. And that’s putting it mildly. Another study on tinnitus conducted in Jordan revealed that people who have tinnitus as a result of hearing loss tend to experience an increased severity. People with tinnitus who did not have hearing loss, a majority reported their symptoms to be a ‘mild annoyance.’ However, among people with tinnitus and hearing loss, 72 percent indicated that their annoyance levels were ‘significant’ or ‘severe.’
Other causes of hearing loss can range from injury to circulation issues and even medications.
The impact of tinnitus
People living with moderate or more severe tinnitus symptoms can experience losses in their quality of life. Common resulting effects include:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Trouble sleeping
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Difficulty focusing
Therapies for tinnitus
Addressing the underlying cause of tinnitus can greatly alleviate and even totally dissipate symptoms. For the nine out of ten tinnitus sufferers that have hearing loss, intervening with a hearing loss solution can tame the most severe of irritating ringing in the ears. Many hearing aids also use programs of white noise therapy, which can mask the subjective noise.
Recently, experts have also prescribed mindfulness therapies in conjunction with hearing aids. Meditation and cognitive behavior therapies that focus on recognizing the tinnitus symptoms and practicing inviting in a sense of peace seem to help people live freely even with the condition.
Treating hearing loss can have a multitude of additional benefits, even beyond lessening the burden of tinnitus. Most people who choose to treat hearing loss with hearing aids are highly satisfied with their purchase and would recommend them to a friend. What’s more, they also report improved relationships as a result, evidence that treating hearing loss can make people feel more connected and less isolated.
Schedule a hearing test today
If you live with symptoms of tinnitus, schedule a hearing test today. Our team of highly trained hearing health professionals will lead you through a simple hearing test. From there, we’ll know whether hearing loss is causing your tinnitus symptoms and if you are a good candidate for hearing aids.