Tinnitus is a sound in the ears or head when there is not an external corresponding sound. People with tinnitus hear sounds within the body that other people cannot hear. Tinnitus sufferers commonly describe ringing, buzzing, humming, roaring, whistling or other noises in their ears.
Approximately 15% of people experience tinnitus. For people over the age of 55, this number increases to over 30%. For many people, tinnitus is a mild irritation and may be only temporary. Tinnitus can be caused by many different reasons. Tinnitus typically starts as a result of hearing loss. Some causes of hearing loss include exposure to loud noises, taking certain types of drugs and medications or middle ear infections. In a small number of cases tinnitus may require medical or surgical intervention.
For some people that have tinnitus another part of the brain (the limbic system) attaches an emotional response to the tinnitus. Similar to the “feeling” you get when you scratch your fingernails down a blackboard, tinnitus can be more than just a sound.
Tinnitus can cause anxiety and stress responses in the body, through the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary processes in the body such as heart rate, breathing, and blood distribution. Around 1-2% of people with tinnitus are bothered so much that sleep, relaxation, and concentration are affected.
Tinnitus can restrict people’s quality of life as sufferers avoid situations that make the tinnitus more noticeable such as quiet environments or particularly noisy situations. For some, tinnitus is a condition which can have a negative impact on work, family, and social life.
If you are one of these people, you may want to consider obtaining a Tinnitus Evaluation. Please see the Tinnitus Evaluation tab for more information.
