Tinnitus is a really prevalent medical condition. Tinnitus can become so overwhelming that it becomes a burden to live with for around 20 million people worldwide. This does not even count the more common types of tinnitus, which for most people can come and go without causing a huge impact on their quality of life.
When you hear sounds in your ears that don’t have an external source and no one else can hear them, that’s tinnitus. This may be a ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound you can’t get rid of. Tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss, but that doesn’t mean that one condition will immediately result in the other.
As a matter of fact, tinnitus comes in a number of forms. And each one will call for a different approach to treatment.
What is tinnitus?
So, what is tinnitus and where does it stem from? Well, it’s important to note that not all types of tinnitus are the same. The assorted causes of tinnitus will present with similar symptoms. But distinguishing the cause can be essential to finding the proper treatment approach.
In some instances, concussions or other traumatic brain injuries or neurological issues can be the cause. Hearing loss related to age can be another aspect that can trigger tinnitus. The following are some other possible causes:
- Neurological tinnitus: Problems with the ear are not always the cause of tinnitus. 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 normal communication between your brain and ears isn’t working properly. The result is that you hear a phantom sound that may not be there. Neurological tinnitus can be a result of concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and more. In some instances, neurological tinnitus might resolve as the brain heals. For others, it may be permanent.
- Subjective tinnitus: When you’re the only one who can hear the sound of your tinnitus, which is really common, hearing specialists will refer to your condition as a subjective tinnitus. This type of tinnitus includes many other types of tinnitus as well. For example, neurological tinnitus can also be subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus can present as many different sound types, including ringing, buzzing, squeals, whistles, roars, and more.
- Objective tinnitus: When the sound you’re hearing in your ears is an actual, verifiable sound, it’s known as objective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus isn’t quite as common as subjective tinnitus, but it still occurs. Most commonly, this means you’re dealing with something called pulsatile tinnitus, which occurs when you’re hearing your pulse or circulatory system. For people with objective tinnitus, that pulsing sound typically seems louder than it should.
- Somatic tinnitus: Tinnitus sounds are often quite constant for many individuals coping with them. Both objective and subjective tinnitus have this characteristic. With somatic tinnitus though, things are a bit different. This form of tinnitus becomes more intense when you move around. Normally, somatic tinnitus will cause the symptoms to become more intense when you move your head or neck.
The majority of these forms of tinnitus aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. You may have subjective tinnitus and neurological tinnitus at the same time, for instance. Identifying the cause of your symptoms can help your hearing specialist choose the best tinnitus treatment options for your symptoms.
Getting assistance with your tinnitus
You most likely won’t need to take any specific action if your tinnitus symptoms are intermittent. But your quality of life can be seriously impacted if your tinnitus symptoms are fairly constant or keep coming back. That’s when it’s particularly important to speak with a hearing specialist to receive specialized care and find some tinnitus relief.
After we determine the root cause of your symptoms, there are a few treatment strategies we can use. A few of these strategies can minimize the severity of your symptoms making them less evident. Other treatment solutions can mask the sound you’re hearing.
Tinnitus can’t generally be cured, but it can be effectively managed. We will work with you to formulate treatments that work for your symptoms. That way, you can more easily ignore the buzzing or ringing in your ears, and get back to the life you love.