Tinnitus is an exceptionally common medical condition. Around 20 million individuals regularly cope with persistent tinnitus so intense that it becomes burdensome. And there are also more prevalent presentations of tinnitus which are much more mild and intermittent and are also easier to cope with.
Tinnitus occurs when you hear a phantom noise, when you’re hearing a sound that nobody else can hear. It may manifest as a persistent buzzing or ringing in the ears. Although hearing loss is often associated with tinnitus, there isn’t always a cause-and-effect connection between the two.
As a matter of fact, there are a considerable variety of types of tinnitus. And each one will require a different treatment approach.
Tinnitus – exactly what is it?
Exactly what is tinnitus and what are its causes? 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 identifying the cause can be essential to finding the proper treatment approach.
In some cases, concussions or other traumatic brain injuries or neurological problems can be the cause. In other circumstances, tinnitus may result from age-related hearing loss. The following are some other potential causes:
- Neurological tinnitus: Problems with the ear are not always the cause of tinnitus. In some cases, the root cause lies within the brain. Neurological tinnitus is a result of injury to or problems with your baseline neurological functions. In other words, something has gone wrong with the normal ways that your brain and ear interact. The result is that you hear a phantom sound that might not be there. A stroke, concussion, or brain injury can all be the root sources of tinnitus, as well as others. In some situations, neurological tinnitus might resolve as the brain heals. It might be permanent 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. This type of tinnitus includes many other forms of tinnitus as well. For instance, neurological tinnitus can also be subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus can manifest as lots of different sound types, including ringing, buzzing, squeals, whistles, roars, and others.
- Objective tinnitus: With objective tinnitus, you’re hearing a real, verifiable, objective sound. Objective tinnitus isn’t quite as common as subjective tinnitus, but it still happens. Typically, this means you’re experiencing something called pulsatile tinnitus, which happens when you’re hearing your heartbeat or circulatory system. For those with objective tinnitus, that pulsing sound typically seems louder than it ought to.
- Somatic tinnitus: Tinnitus sounds are frequently quite constant for many people coping with them. That’s true for both subjective and objective tinnitus. With somatic tinnitus though, things are a bit different. This type of tinnitus becomes more intense when you move around. Usually, somatic tinnitus is most sensitive to movement of the head or neck areas.
The majority of these forms of tinnitus are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, you might have neurological tinnitus and subjective tinnitus. Identifying the cause of your symptoms can help your hearing specialist choose the best tinnitus treatment strategy for your symptoms.
Finding tinnitus assistance
You probably won’t have to take any particular action if your tinnitus symptoms are sporadic. But if your tinnitus hangs around or comes back frequently, it might have real and significant impacts on your day-to-day life. That’s when it’s particularly important to talk to a hearing specialist to receive specialized care and find some tinnitus relief.
We have several different tinnitus management methods we may try depending on the underlying cause of your symptoms. Several treatments can make the sounds you’re hearing less obvious. We may also utilize masking techniques to hide your symptoms.
Generally, there is no cure for tinnitus, though it can usually be successfully managed. We will work with you to formulate treatments that work for your symptoms. This will help you enjoy life again by pushing your symptoms into the background where they can be more easily ignored.
