Tinnitus is an exceptionally common medical condition. Something like 20 million people regularly suffer from persistent tinnitus so intense that it becomes burdensome. And there are also more prevalent presentations of tinnitus which are much more mild and sporadic and are also easier to deal with.
Tinnitus happens when you hear a phantom sound, when you’re hearing a sound that nobody else can hear. This may be a ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound you can’t shake. Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss, but that doesn’t mean that one condition will automatically lead to 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.
Tinnitus – exactly what is it?
Exactly what is tinnitus and what are its causes? Well, it’s important to mention that not all types of tinnitus are the same. Regardless of the particular cause, the symptoms will be similar. But it’s still crucial to determine the cause in order to effectively treat the symptoms.
For some individuals, tinnitus is the result of a neurological problem, like a traumatic brain injury or a concussion. Hearing loss related to age can be another aspect that can cause tinnitus. The following are some other potential causes:
- Neurological tinnitus: Problems with the ear aren’t always the cause of tinnitus. The brain itself can sometimes be the cause. If your baseline neurological functions are damaged by injury it can trigger neurological tinnitus. In other words, something has broken down with the normal ways that your brain and ear communicate. As a result, a phantom sound is heard which isn’t actually there. A stroke, concussion, or brain injury can all be the underlying sources of tinnitus, as well as others. As the brain heals, neurological tinnitus will, in some cases, go away on its own. For others, it could be lasting.
- Subjective tinnitus: When you’re the only one who can hear the sound of your tinnitus, which is quite common, hearing specialists will refer to your condition as a subjective tinnitus. Lots of other types of tinnitus also fall into this category. Neurological tinnitus, for instance, is often also subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus can present as many different sound types, including ringing, buzzing, squeals, whistles, roars, and more.
- Objective tinnitus: When you have objective tinnitus, you’re hearing a real, verifiable, objective sound. Objective tinnitus does happen, though it’s not as common as subjective types. Pulsatile tinnitus, which is when you hear your heartbeat or pulse, is an example of this type of tinnitus. 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 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.
Often, individuals will have more than one type of tinnitus simultaneously. You might have subjective tinnitus and neurological tinnitus together, for instance. In order for us to formulate a treatment plan, we will first need to determine the root cause of your tinnitus.
Getting tinnitus support
You probably won’t need to take any particular action if your tinnitus symptoms are intermittent. But if your tinnitus sticks around or comes back frequently, it may have real and serious impacts on your day-to-day life. When that happens, your best plan to get some relief is to call us for a consultation.
We have several different tinnitus management methods we might 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.
Tinnitus can’t typically be cured, but it can be effectively managed. We will help you customize the best treatment for your specific situation. That way, you can more easily ignore the buzzing or ringing in your ears, and get back to the life you love.
