Yes, millions around the world! Probably 18% of Australians have tinnitus at some time of their lives and approximately '50 million Americans have tinnitus in some form'. Countries with self-help groups include USA, UK, Germany, Canada, New Zealand and, of course, Australia. Severe tinnitus is recognised as a very major affliction, but most people have tinnitus to a milder degree. Given time, commitment and up-to-date professional help, tinnitus can reduce for many people.
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What Can Make Tinnitus Worse?
1. Loud noise! - Exposure to sudden or long-term noise can damage your hearing with resultant deafness and tinnitus. High-risk groups include industrial workers, farmers, transport workers - and don't forget that noisy lawn mower! Reduce the noise source or protect your ears with earplugs, or ear muffs. Leisure noise can also be a hazard, e.g. rock concerts, boom boxes in cars and misuse of a Walkman - never play it loudly.
2. Stress and Fatigue - They make tinnitus worse! Keeping busy - trying to focus your energies OUTWARD AND AWAY from the tinnitus - is an excellent idea, but stress and fatigue only undermine you. Minimise them by rethinking your lifestyle. Relaxation therapy can help greatly if learnt and practised daily.
Hypnotherapy from a qualified practitioner may help. Also good - sports, hobbies, yoga, t'ai chi, reflexology or massage.
3. Medications - It is essential
to tell your family doctor about your tinnitus; some common medications
cause tinnitus as a side effect or make your existing tinnitus worse.
Take special care with medications for arthritis, rheumatic diseases,
some antibiotics, and anti-depressants. Also aspirin - ask your doctor
about alternatives.
4. Try easing off caffeine (tea, coffee, coca-cola, chocolate), and alcohol as they can temporarily worsen tinnitus for some people. Avoid quinine - as in tonic water. Nicotine and marijuana too. Smoking narrows your blood vessels which supply vital oxygen to your ears and their sensory cells. PLEASE - quit smoking!
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Does Tinnitus Mean That One Is Going Deaf?
Tinnitus is a symptom of a fault in the hearing system, so usually it is associated with a hearing loss. Sometimes tinnitus is present with normal hearing and for no discernible reason. TREAT TINNITUS AS A WARNING SIGNAL - PROTECT AGAINST EXCESSIVE NOISE AND SEE YOUR DOCTOR.
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I Have Tinnitus - What Should I Do?
Do see your doctor and have your hearing checked by an audiologist (hearing scientist). Some audiologists run specialist tinnitus clinics to help you manage your tinnitus and they fit hearing aids and/or therapeutic noise generators if needed. Some people may require a referral to an ENT specialist. There may be a TREATABLE medical cause.
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Hearing Aids
Good quality and properly fitted hearing aids reduce and even eliminate most tinnitus associated with hearing losses. Hearing aids take away the strain of listening and distract from the tinnitus by bringing you more environmental sounds from the outside world.
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Therapeutic Noise Generator
Device which looks like a hearing aid and recommended for people with no hearing loss. It produces a blend of external sounds which stimulate most fibres of the hearing nerve helping to deviate attention away from the tinnitus.
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Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate tinnitus perception. It combines auditory therapy - hearing aids and/or therapeutic noise generators - to provide the brain with maximum environmental sounds to reduce tinnitus perception. Directive counselling helps to change negative beliefs, distract from tinnitus and reduce stress.
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Effective in alleviating distress and producing adaptation to tinnitus. CBT is threefold: changing the way a person perceives tinnitus; teaching ways to focus attention away from tinnitus and achieving control over stress. Offered by clinical psychologists.
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Is There An Operation For Tinnitus?
For the vast majority of people there is no specific operation for tinnitus. However, following successful surgical treatment for some ear problems, an existing tinnitus may sometimes disappear, e.g. otosclerosis, Meniere's disease, middle ear infection.
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Meniere's Disease
Is a common condition in which most patients suffer from tinnitus and deafness in one ear and periodic attacks of dizziness. One of these symptoms may be the predominant one and so some patients mainly complain of tinnitus in the affected ear. Some patients have tinnitus in both ears. Accurate diagnosis/treatment of Meniere's disease may result in significantly less tinnitus.
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Is There Any Medication For Tinnitus?
Perhaps for some people. It depends on the cause of the tinnitus; consult your specialist. Vitamin B12 may be helpful. Herbal remedies, if taken under medical supervision, may be of some use.
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Check With Your Dentist
Perhaps 5% of tinnitus is caused by a jaw joint (*TMJ) problem which is treatable. This type of tinnitus occurs because jaw muscles and a muscle in the middle ear are closely connected. When jaw muscles spasm the ear muscles react by pulling the eardrum too tight, and this situation can result in tinnitus.
*Temporo-mandibular joint or TMJ for short.
In Summary
Tinnitus is not simple. Everybody's tinnitus noise is individual to them, although of course there are several major types e.g. ringing, buzzing, whistling, roaring, humming etc. Its causes are many (though excessive noise and some medications are the major PREVENTABLE causes). The range of tinnitus is very wide from mild to severe. It is usual for tinnitus to fluctuate with stress or tiredness and this has no sinister significance. If tinnitus is troubling you TAKE ACTION NOW.
TINNITUS - WHAT IS IT?
Many causes - almost everything that can go wrong with our ears can produce tinnitus as a symptom! Perhaps as simple as wax against the eardrum, or as serious as a tumour on the hearing nerve. Otosclerosis (fixation of the tiny stirrup bone in the middle ear) can produce tinnitus; so can Meniere's disease. A major cause of tinnitus is EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE, e.g. chain saws, machinery, rock concerts. Noise destroys!