We have talked about tinnitus before. After a few recent experiences while testing at Pinnacle Ear Nose Throat & Allergy it is time to talk about it again. If your primary care physician or any other medical provider has told you that you must live with your tinnitus, there is nothing you can do about it, it is time to seek audiological care. Let me say that again…help is available!
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present. While it is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus can manifest many different perceptions of sound, including buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, music, singing, and clicking. Tinnitus can be both an acute (temporary) condition or a chronic (ongoing) health condition.
We have all experienced a ringing in the ear that is very high pitched, often in one ear and short in duration usually lasting for several seconds. We refer to this as “random ear noise”. This is not considered tinnitus.
There are approximately 50 million people in the USA with tinnitus and 2-5 million actual tinnitus patients. For tinnitus patients, the emotional component of their tinnitus is paramount. There are two essential factors in tinnitus: the sound perceived and the reaction to it. Generally, people with tinnitus dismiss, ignore, or minimize it such that it does not impact their quality of life. However, among tinnitus patients, there is a significant range of unique experiences and often a degradation of quality of life. Tinnitus may exacerbate or cause insomnia, cause difficulty hearing, impair concentration, create stress, cause problems at work and home and many impact socialization ability. Rates of depression and anxiety in people suffering with tinnitus vary from 33-60%. The perception of and structural changes associated with tinnitus are correlated with an increased risk of early-onset dementia.
Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant. Tinnitus may be perceived within the head or localized to one or both ears. Central and bilateral tinnitus (both ears) are far more common than in one ear (unilateral). All cases of unilateral tinnitus should be referred to an ENT, such as Dr. Whitaker or Charis Bostian FNP, for medical evaluation and management.
In most cases it is rare to know the specific etiology of tinnitus. The most common risk factors are age, noise exposure and hearing loss. It is estimated that 80% of people with tinnitus have hearing loss and 80% of the people with hearing loss have tinnitus. It seems likely that in these cases, hearing loss and tinnitus share the same etiology.
Depending on etiology, tinnitus may be effectively treated by in-office interventions, hearing aids, cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness breathing and more. In general, hearing aids most often offer the best tinnitus treatment option for people with and without hearing loss. New tinnitus treatments appear every year and most disappear just as quickly. Dietary supplements and other over the counter, natural, health-food, herbs and vitamins have not been shown to be beneficial in peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Due to the uncontrolled variables associated with tinnitus, as well as the idiosyncratic nature of tinnitus patients we do not anticipate a “cure” for tinnitus in the foreseeable future. However, the lack of a cure does not represent a dead-end. Treatment options continue to be developed, and ever-increasing new knowledge has already resulted in greater than 90% successful treatment. Dr. Mussler has developed a very extensive program to help our patients cope with their very bothersome tinnitus.
NO, you don’t have to live with your tinnitus. Help is available. If you would like to schedule an appointment to evaluate your tinnitus/hearing concerns, give Taylor, Diane or Jamie a call at 704-633-0023. Remember to visit our website: www.hearingsolutionsofnc.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Dr. Mussler, Jane, Cheryl, and I look forward to seeing you soon.