If you’ve experienced a perception of sound, like buzzing or ringing in your ear(s), and/or head, you may have tinnitus. Sunnybrook audiologist Enza Ciurlia-Guy provides an overview of this common health problem.
What is it? Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no external sound source present. The objective form of tinnitus is rare, and means both the individual and examiner can hear a sound. The subjective form of tinnitus is much more common, and means only the individual with the condition hears the sound.
What does tinnitus sound like? Tinnitus can sound like a number of different things, including pulsing, static, humming, whistling, ringing, chirping or squealing. About 75% of people with tinnitus say it’s a nuisance. In more severe cases, tinnitus can interrupt sleep, work and overall quality of life.
Why does it happen? The majority of people with tinnitus have no idea what the actual cause is, but there are many potential triggers. These can include impacted ear wax, chronic ear or sinus infections/congestions, allergies, Eustachian tube dysfunction, otosclerosis, Meniere’s disease or tumors.
Other trigger sources may include head/neck trauma, noise exposure, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, heart disease, underactive thyroid and diabetes. Large doses of certain drugs – including anything with ASA as an active ingredient, some antibiotics and some anti-inflammatory medications – may also play a role.
How common is tinnitus? About 15-20% of the general population, and between 70-85% of people with hearing loss, will experience tinnitus. It has nothing to do with aging. Even those with normal hearing can experience tinnitus.
Does it come and go? It’s not uncommon to experience a sudden high pitched ringing sound accompanied by a feeling of fullness that goes away quickly, and this is called transient ear noise. With intermittent tinnitus, people have ear or head noise that lasts more than five minutes and happens intermittently. With chronic tinnitus, the ear or head noise is persistent over time.
Can it be cured? The most important first step in the management of tinnitus is to see an ENT specialist and audiologist for a proper assessment. Most often there is no direct medical approach to treat this condition. However, there are some management options that can be tried. Generally for anyone with tinnitus, it’s important to avoid complete silence. Continuous, low-level sounds (e.g. fan) in your environment will make it harder for the brain to track the tinnitus and offer you some relief. If you wear a hearing aid(s), wear them every day. Speak to your audiologist to identify if there are any options in the hearing aid that will provide the maximum flexibility for both hearing loss and tinnitus. There are specific devices for those with normal hearing and tinnitus.
Learn more. Audiology Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre offers a Living With Tinnitus Workshop. This 3-hour workshop allows individuals to share their experiences and learn about the condition. For more information, call 416-480-4143.
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