Tinnitus is very common, but it’s often poorly understood. The name tinnitus comes from Latin, and it relates to ringing in the ears. It is not a disease, but it can have a profound impact on your quality of life, particularly if it interferes with your sleep quality. To ensure you receive the right treatment for tinnitus, it’s crucial to understand the condition.

What is tinnitus?

Many people are aware that tinnitus causes a ringing noise in the ears, but understanding why is essential to getting the necessary treatment. Tinnitus is not a condition as such, but it can contribute to damaging effects, including sleep disturbance. For some people, the constant presence of noise can also prove irritating and frustrating. Tinnitus is most commonly known as ringing in the ears. However, there are other noises that can be experienced, including buzzing, hissing, whistling, grinding and humming sounds. The frequency with which ringing or buzzing noises are experienced varies from one individual to the next. Some people have short bouts while others live with persistent noise.

Why do I have tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be caused by many different factors, and it’s not always possible to pinpoint a single cause. In many cases, you experience tinnitus on a temporary basis after listening to loud music or being exposed to loud noises, such as gunshots. If you have more long-term or persistent symptoms, this can indicate an underlying cause. Examples include middle ear infections, a buildup of wax inside the ear or conditions that affect the auditory mechanisms, including Meniere’s disease and otosclerosis. Injuries to the head and neck and symptoms related to temporomandibular joint disorder can also increase the risk of tinnitus.

Tinnitus and hearing loss

It’s often assumed that tinnitus contributes to hearing loss, but it doesn’t actually cause loss of hearing. It is fairly common for patients to experience both hearing loss and tinnitus, but hearing loss is often associated with other factors. If you have hearing loss and tinnitus, it may be possible to use hearing aids as a treatment option. Wearing hearing aids enables you to hear better, but it should also alleviate tinnitus. If you see an audiologist, they will conduct tests to determine the best treatment option, which is often hearing aids in the case of patients who experience hearing loss and tinnitus simultaneously.

Living with tinnitus

For many people, tinnitus is not a serious problem, and it goes as quickly as it comes. However, it is possible to experience severe tinnitus. If you have persistent symptoms and tinnitus is starting to impact your day-to-day life, it’s advisable to see an expert. There are solutions out there, and your audiologist will work with you to try and identify causes and seek out the best treatment options. If you can’t sleep or your symptoms are getting worse, it’s time to take action. As well as treatment methods, there are certain things you can do to try and ease symptoms. Self-help techniques include stress management measures like meditation and exercise, as many people find that their symptoms are exacerbated by stress, avoiding silence and cutting down on caffeine.