Tinnitus is an incredibly common medical condition. Tinnitus can become so extreme that it becomes a burden to live with for about 20 million people worldwide. This does not even reference the more common types of tinnitus, which for most people can come and go without causing a major impact on their quality of life.
Tinnitus happens when you hear a phantom noise, when you’re hearing a sound that no one else can hear. This could be a ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound you can’t shake. Although hearing loss is often associated with tinnitus, there isn’t always a cause-and-effect relationship between the two.
As a matter of fact, tinnitus comes in numerous forms. And each one will call for a different treatment approach.
Tinnitus – exactly what is it?
So, what is tinnitus and where does it stem from? Well, it’s essential to note that not all types of tinnitus are the same. The various causes of tinnitus will present with similar symptoms. But it’s still essential to identify the cause in order to successfully manage the symptoms.
For some individuals, tinnitus is the outcome of a neurological problem, like a traumatic brain injury or a concussion. In other circumstances, tinnitus may be caused by age-related hearing loss. Here are some of the most prevalent types of tinnitus:
- Neurological tinnitus: Problems with the ear aren’t always the cause of tinnitus. The brain itself can sometimes be the source. Neurological tinnitus is caused by injury to or problems with your baseline neurological functions. This means that the typical communication between your brain and ears isn’t functioning properly. The outcome is that you hear a phantom sound that might not be there. Neurological tinnitus can be caused by concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and others. As the brain heals, neurological tinnitus will, in some situations, go away on its own. It might be irreversible in other instances.
- Subjective tinnitus: With subjective tinnitus, the sound you’re hearing is phantom and has no external source and only you can hear it. Lots of other types of tinnitus also fall into this category. For example, neurological tinnitus can also be subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus can present as lots of different sound types, including ringing, buzzing, squeals, whistles, roars, and others.
- Objective tinnitus: When the sound you’re hearing in your ears is a real, verifiable sound, it’s known as objective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus isn’t really as common as subjective tinnitus, but it still occurs. Most commonly, this means you’re experiencing something called pulsatile tinnitus, which happens when you’re hearing your pulse or circulatory system. For individuals with objective tinnitus, that pulsing sound typically seems louder than it should.
- Somatic tinnitus: Tinnitus sounds are frequently rather constant for many people coping with them. Both objective and subjective tinnitus have this characteristic. However, somatic tinnitus is different. This type of tinnitus becomes more extreme when you move around. Usually, somatic tinnitus is most susceptible to movement of the head or neck areas.
Most of these types of tinnitus are not generally mutually exclusive. You might have subjective tinnitus and neurological tinnitus together, for example. Figuring out the cause of your symptoms can help your hearing specialist choose the best tinnitus treatment strategy for your symptoms.
Getting assistance with your tinnitus
If your tinnitus is here this minute and gone the next, you most likely don’t have to do anything about it. But your quality of life can be significantly impacted if your tinnitus symptoms are fairly constant or keep coming back. That’s when it’s particularly important to speak with a hearing specialist to receive specialized care and find some tinnitus relief.
After we identify the underlying cause of your symptoms, there are a few treatment strategies we can utilize. Several treatments can make the sounds you’re hearing less obvious. Other treatment options can mask the sound you’re hearing.
Tinnitus can’t usually be cured, but it can be successfully managed. We will help you customize the best treatment for your specific situation. That way, you can more easily disregard the buzzing or ringing in your ears, and get back to the life you love.