How Tinnitus Impacts Daily Life
Most people have experienced ringing or buzzing in their ears, likely after a loud event. Ringing in the ears can be distracting and make communicating difficult. The noise typically fades, but for some, never goes away.
This ringing is called tinnitus. It can manifest as ringing, clicking, buzzing, or a variety of sounds. Tinnitus ranges in severity and is caused by different things. Although there is no cure for chronic tinnitus, in which the symptoms persist for over three months, there are treatment options that can allow patients to live a normal life despite the condition.
When approaching treatment, it’s important to understand what tinnitus is, and the cause. Tinnitus is most often caused by age and long-term exposure to loud sounds, but there are other causes. Ototoxic drugs, impacted ear wax, and problems in the middle ear are less common. For cases such as impacted ear wax, sounds being heard are sounds our bodies naturally produce. In most types of tinnitus, sounds are not influenced by any external input. In these cases, tinnitus is the brain’s attempt to compensate for a lack of external stimuli caused by damaged hair cells in the cochlea, part of the inner ear involved in hearing.
Common negative impacts of tinnitus include anxiety, poor concentration and sleeping habits, stress, irritability, and depression.
Because tinnitus is more noticeable when it’s quiet, falling asleep can be difficult. Using a sound machine or white noise app helps drown out tinnitus. There are also masking devices, such as hearing aids, that help cover the sound of tinnitus.
While some can live with a slight annoyance, others find it harder to ignore. The first step for someone experiencing tinnitus is to be evaluated by a hearing health professional to discuss your options for treatment.