It isn’t unusual for people to have ringing in their ears, also known as tinnitus. It’s one of the most prevalent health conditions in the world with some estimates suggesting that up to 10 percent of the population experiences it at one point or another. The condition manifests as a sound in the ear that isn’t really there, normally, it’s a buzzing or ringing, but tinnitus can manifest as other sounds as well.
Unfortunately, the causes of tinnitus aren’t as evident as the symptoms. Some of the wide variety of tinnitus causes are temporary, while others can be more long term.
This is why environmental factors can play a major role in tinnitus symptoms. After all, every setting has a soundscape, and when that soundscape is loud, you may be doing damage to your ears. If your tinnitus is caused by damage, it may end up being permanent.
What is tinnitus (and why is it so prevalent)?
Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear a noise that isn’t actually there. Tinnitus normally manifests as a ringing or buzzing, but can also manifest as other sounds, like screeching, thumping, or humming. The sounds are usually rhythmic in nature. For most individuals, tinnitus will manifest over a short period of time before resolving itself and going away. Though not as common, chronic tinnitus is effectively permanent.
There are a couple of reasons why tinnitus is so prevalent. The first is that the environmental factors that contribute to tinnitus are also relatively common (more on that soon). Root conditions and injuries can contribute to tinnitus symptoms and that accounts for the second reason. Put simply, there are lots of such injuries or conditions that can result in tinnitus. Consequently, tinnitus tends to be rather common.
How can the environment affect tinnitus?
There are a wide variety of factors that can bring about tinnitus symptoms, including ototoxic chemicals and medications. But when it comes to “environmental” triggers, noise is the biggest culprit. Some settings, such as noisy city streets, can get very loud. Likewise, anyone who works around industrial equipment all day would be at risk of their environment worsening their tinnitus.
These environmental factors can be incredibly significant when considering your hearing health.
Noise related damage, as with hearing loss, can cause tinnitus symptoms. When tinnitus is a result of noise damage, it’s typically chronic and frequently permanent. Some of the most prevalent noise and environment-related causes of tinnitus include the following:
- Traffic: You may not even recognize how loud traffic can be in heavily populated locations. And you may not even realize that your ears can be damaged at lower volumes than you may expect. Long commutes or regular driving in these noisy environments can eventually result in hearing damage, including tinnitus.
- Events: Tinnitus can sometimes be caused by loud noises, even if they aren’t experienced over a long time-period. Shooting a gun or going to a rock concert are examples of this kind of noise.
- Music: Many people will frequently listen to their music at loud volumes. Doing this on a regular basis can frequently trigger tinnitus symptoms.
- Noise in the workplace: It may come as a surprise that lots of workplaces, sometimes even offices, are fairly noisy. Tinnitus can eventually result from being in these places for eight hours a day, whether it’s industrial equipment or the din of a lot of people talking in an office.
People frequently mistakenly believe damage to their ears will only occur at extreme volume levels. For this reason, hearing protection should be used at lower volumes than you might expect. Hearing protection can help prevent tinnitus symptoms from developing in the first place.
What should I do if I have tinnitus?
Will tinnitus clear up by itself? Perhaps, in some cases. In other cases, your symptoms could be permanent. There’s no way to identify which is which at the beginning. If you have tinnitus due to noise damage, even if your tinnitus does go away, your risk of having your tinnitus come back and become chronic is much more likely.
People often underestimate the minimum volume that damage begins to happen, which is the most significant contributing factor to its development. If you experience tinnitus, your body is telling you that damage has already probably happened. If this is the case, finding and changing the source of the noise damage is essential to prevent additional damage.
For instance, you could try:
- If possible, try to lower environmental volume. For instance, you could close the windows if you live in a noisy area or turn off industrial equipment that isn’t in use.
- Decreasing the amount of time you spend in loud environments without giving your ears a chance to recuperate.
- Stop damage by utilizing hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs. Noise canceling headphones can also be a benefit in this regard.
How to handle your symptoms
The symptoms of tinnitus are frequently a big distraction and are really unpleasant for the majority of people who deal with them. This prompts them to try and find a way to ease the intensity of their symptoms.
If you hear a buzzing or ringing sound, it’s important to set up an appointment, especially if the sound won’t go away. We can help you figure out the best way to address your specific situation. For the majority of cases of persistent tinnitus, there’s no cure. Here are a number of ways to manage the symptoms:
- Hearing aid: The ringing or buzzing created by tinnitus can be drowned out by boosting the volume of outside sounds with hearing aids.
- White noise devices: In some cases, you can tune out some of your tinnitus symptoms by using a white noise generator around your home.
- Masking device: This is a device that fits similarly to a hearing aid and plays sounds to mask your symptoms. The exact calibration of your device will depend on your particular symptoms.
- Relaxation techniques: High blood pressure has sometimes been linked to an increase in the severity of tinnitus symptoms. Your tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be alleviated by using relaxation techniques like meditation, for example.
- Retraining therapy: You can sometimes retrain your ears with the assistance of a specialist, which will progressively retrain the way you process sound.
Tinnitus is not curable. A great first step would be to safeguard your hearing by controlling your environment.
But treating and controlling tinnitus is possible. We’ll be able to develop a specific treatment plan based on your hearing, your tinnitus, and your lifestyle. For some, managing your tinnitus might simply mean utilizing a white noise machine. In other situations, a more intensive approach might be needed.
Learn how to best manage your tinnitus by making an appointment right away!
