Tinnitus is characterized by the perception of noise—such as ringing or buzzing—in the ears without any external sound source. Many people will hear the occasional ringing in their ears following a loud concert or movie, otherwise known as a temporary threshold shift. Others, however, are burdened by the constant presence of the symptom. Let’s take a look at a few temporary and permanent causes of tinnitus and how you can begin to manage your symptoms.
Temporary and Permanent Tinnitus Causes
Identifying the cause of your tinnitus, whether temporary or permanent, is a crucial first step in managing your symptoms. Three common causes include:
- Hearing loss. Approximately 90% of tinnitus cases occur with an underlying hearing loss. Damage to the hearing system, whether due to aging, noise exposure or other factors, can disrupt the auditory process. When a disrupted hearing system cannot provide the auditory center of your brain with enough stimulus, it may generate its own noise in the form of tinnitus. While some cases of hearing loss-induced tinnitus may be temporary, others are permanent and profound.
- Ear infections. Ear infections arise when bacteria or viruses cause fluid accumulation and inflammation behind the eardrum. Symptoms may include pain, tiredness, dizziness and tinnitus. This type of tinnitus generally subsides once the infection clears, provided no lasting damage exists.
- Ototoxic medication. Some medications have harmful effects on the ears, known as ototoxicity, which can lead to hearing loss, balance issues and tinnitus. The permanency of tinnitus caused by ototoxic drugs varies with the duration of use and the degree of ear damage. While tinnitus may cease after discontinuing the medication, in many instances, it becomes a permanent condition. Because you cannot always avoid ototoxic medication, such as when it is used to treat cancer or high blood pressure, you should schedule regular audiology appointments when taking these drugs.
What Are Your Tinnitus Management Options?
Persistent tinnitus can cause stress, anxiety, frustration, sleeplessness, trouble concentrating and more. Because the impact of tinnitus is so severe, finding the right management option is crucial. A few common tinnitus management options may include:
- Sound masking. Sound masking uses external noise to cover the internal ringing of tinnitus, thereby minimizing its effect. A few effective sound masking tools include white noise machines, fans and hearing aids.
- Counseling. Counseling options focus on changing your thoughts and feelings about your symptoms to reduce negative emotional reactions. A few counseling options may include cognitive behavioral or tinnitus retraining therapy.
If you are experiencing symptoms of tinnitus, whether temporary or permanent, contact Gulf Coast Audiology today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists for a symptom management plan.