If you hear a sound without any external source, you might be experiencing Tinnitus.
Common sounds that you might hear include buzzing, ringing, and humming. It is also possible to hear a combination of these sounds.
If you have these symptoms, you might ask, “Do I have tinnitus?” and to find out about your condition, you need to learn more about the causes of tinnitus.
The symptom associated with tinnitus can only happen in one ear. It can be intermittent but there are times when the ringing becomes constant. The problem usually originates in your middle ear and it is often due to the issues with your sensorineural auditory system.
If you have tinnitus, you will hear the music with no external source. It can be interpreted as hallucinations brought about by mental illness, the symptoms of tinnitus may be different. The person with tinnitus does not hear an imaginary sound. The neural activity actually exists in your brain and that is the reason you experience tinnitus.
Why do I Have Tinnitus?
Tinnitus may have many causes, but the primary cause is still unknown. With that said, anything that causes hearing loss can also cause tinnitus.
One of the causes of tinnitus is exposure to noise. If you are exposed to machines at work without wearing ear protection, you are most likely to get your inner or middle ear damaged. Other causes include aging, head injury and side effects of medications like aspirin.
If you have tinnitus, it is almost always associated with hearing loss. Not only are adults affected by tinnitus but children as well. Moderately loud sounds can become very loud and this is due to hyperacusis which accompanies tinnitus.
The Classifications of Tinnitus
Tinnitus, like hearing loss, comes in different types like objective tinnitus and subjective tinnitus.
With objective tinnitus, the examiner can hear the sound while the subjective tinnitus can only be heard by the individual who is experiencing tinnitus.
These classifications are also known as sensorineural tinnitus and middle ear tinnitus. With sensorineural tinnitus, the causes can be infections, aging, medications, head injury, and noise. The nerve activity is abnormal and might increase over time. The activity takes place across your nerve fibers.
The middle ear tinnitus, on the other hand, is due to the abnormal blood flow or twitching in your muscles. This type of tinnitus produces throbbing or pulsing sound.
Tinnitus may only be in one ear and treated surgically. You will need to visit an otologist to find out about the proper treatment for your condition and to know the answer to “why do I have tinnitus in one ear.”
If you have noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus may originate from your cochlear, but it is also possible that the problem originated from your brain stem.
Regardless of the origin of tinnitus, the auditory part of your brain is responsible for interpreting the changes.
How Serious is Tinnitus?
Some who experience early signs of tinnitus will immediately seek information while others are alarmed.
The first thing you need to do is to determine the cause as it could just be a symptom of another medical condition that needs attention.
If you do not have control over the condition, you might end up worsening the symptom. Tinnitus does not have any cure, which makes your initial reaction even worse.
You can still do something about it and it starts with seeking help. If you are bothered by your tinnitus, you need to obtain detailed information and coping strategies so you can effectively reduce the impact of tinnitus.
There are patients who are distressed about their condition but with the help of professionals, stress can be reduced and coping abilities can be improved.
It is also interesting to note that tinnitus is unique to each individual but one thing is for sure: seeking immediate help can lessen bothersome symptoms.
Anyone with tinnitus can have disrupted thoughts, sleep, hearing, and emotions.
You might want to undergo Do I have tinnitus test to find out about the severity of your condition and to determine if there are other problems that might have caused tinnitus to exist.
Since tinnitus affects your thoughts and emotions, you might perceive the symptom to be debilitating. Some may develop anxiety because they think tinnitus can ruin their life, reduce their ability to interact with others and deter them from accomplishing anything.
There are approaches like Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy that can be helpful in terms of dealing with tinnitus.
Some people who experience tinnitus often hear sounds that compete or mask the things they want to hear.
It is also common for people with tinnitus to have a hearing loss and determining whether the hearing difficulties are due to the tinnitus or hearing loss remains to be a challenge.There are patients who have also reported the difficulty hearing a bird or a telephone.
Listening through tinnitus is a daunting task. Wearing hearing aids can help you to improve your hearing and tinnitus. You can also try taking do I have tinnitus quiz to receive the right treatment.
Having a good night’s sleep helps you to restore the energy you have expended. Lying in your bed in a quiet room is one way to relax your mind but when there is constant ringing in your ears, it becomes a challenge for you to sleep well.
You will have trouble once tinnitus interferes in the middle of the night. Whether it is a brief afternoon nap or waking up in the morning, the symptoms will get worse and worse. Sound therapy is one way to improve your quality of sleep.
Aside from affecting your sleep, tinnitus can also give you difficulties concentrating, making it harder for you to focus on a task. Even a simple task like reading the newspaper or a book can be challenging. There are habits that can help you improve your concentration.
The Effects of Tinnitus on Your Daily Activities
Tinnitus affects your hearing, but it can also impact your emotions, thoughts, concentration, and sleep.
There are also secondary problems associated with tinnitus such as social isolation and difficulties accomplishing a task.
There are treatment options to consider that will help you with your tinnitus. It is important to understand the symptoms so you will know how to eliminate it.
Presently, tinnitus has no known cure. No surgery or pill can effectively get rid of tinnitus. With the help of sound therapy and counseling, an individual with tinnitus can have a better life.
Despite the fact that there is no cure for tinnitus, there are still ways you can alleviate the symptoms of Tinnitus.
There are general approaches that you can apply that will help you cope with your tinnitus. By eating healthy foods, relaxation, and regular exercise, you will be able to alleviate the symptoms.
You can also modify your reactions by taking medications and dietary supplements. While some medications can cause tinnitus, there are medications that can be helpful in minimizing the effects of tinnitus.
Surgery may also be an option, especially if tinnitus is in the middle ear. When the middle ear muscles are twitching, tinnitus might become severe. This is due to the abnormal blood flow, which occurs in your middle ear.
An operation can be helpful as it can reduce the throbbing or pulsing sound.
You can also seek alternative treatments but it is still necessary to take precautionary measures. Some of these treatments are marketed aggressively but there is no guarantee that they work. There are treatments with exaggerated claims. It is best to do your own research before considering these treatments.
