Tinnitus is an incredibly common condition of the ear. It’s one of the most prevalent health conditions in the world with some estimates indicating that up to 10 percent of the population experiences it at one point or another. The condition manifests as a sound in the ear that isn’t really there, usually, it’s a buzzing or ringing, but tinnitus can take the form of other sounds too.
Sadly, the causes of tinnitus aren’t as evident as the symptoms. In part, that’s because tinnitus could result from a wide variety of causes, some of which are temporary and others that can be more long lasting.
This is why environmental factors can play a major role in tinnitus symptoms. After all, every setting has a soundscape, and when that soundscape is loud, you could be causing damage to your ears. If your tinnitus is due to damage, it could end up being permanent.
What is tinnitus (and why is it so prevalent)?
Tinnitus is a condition that causes you to hear a noise that isn’t actually there. Tinnitus usually manifests as a ringing or buzzing, but can also manifest as other noises, like screeching, thumping, or humming. The sounds are usually rhythmic in nature. Tinnitus will normally clear itself up after a short time period. Though not as common, chronic tinnitus is effectively permanent.
There are a couple of reasons why tinnitus is so common. The first is that the environmental factors that contribute to tinnitus are also fairly common (more on that soon). The second reason is that tinnitus is often a symptom of an underlying condition or injury. In other words, there are lots of such injuries or conditions that can trigger tinnitus. Consequently, tinnitus tends to be very common.
How can the environment impact tinnitus?
There are a large number of factors that can contribute to tinnitus symptoms, including ototoxic chemicals and medicines. However, when the majority of individuals discuss “environment” when it comes to tinnitus, they actually mean the noise. For instance, some neighborhoods are noisier than others (traffic noise in some settings can get extraordinarily high). Likewise, anyone who works around industrial equipment all day would be at risk of their environment worsening their tinnitus.
These environmental factors can be incredibly significant when considering your hearing health.
Noise induced damage, as with hearing loss, can activate tinnitus symptoms. When tinnitus is caused by noise damage, it’s typically chronic and frequently permanent. Some of the most common noise and environment-induced causes of tinnitus include the following:
- Noise in the workplace: It may come as a surprise that many workplaces, sometimes even offices, are pretty loud. Whether it’s industrial equipment or chatty office neighbors, spending eight hours a day around constant workplace noise can eventually lead to tinnitus.
- Traffic: Traffic in heavily populated locations can be a lot louder than you might expect it to be. And noise damage can happen at a lower volume than you might expect. Long commutes or regular driving in these noisy settings can eventually result in hearing damage, including tinnitus.
- Events: Tinnitus can sometimes result from loud noises, even if they aren’t experienced over a long time-period. Firing a gun or going to a rock concert are examples of this type of noise.
- Music: Listening to music at high volumes is a fairly common practice. Tinnitus will frequently be the result if you do this frequently.
Damage to the ears can occur at a much lower volume than people generally expect. Consequently, it’s crucial to use hearing protection before you think you may need it. Noise associated tinnitus symptoms can frequently be avoided altogether by doing this.
What should I do if I’m experiencing tinnitus?
So, does tinnitus go away? Well, in some instances it could. In other cases, your symptoms could be permanent. There’s no way to identify which is which at the outset. Likewise, just because your tinnitus has gone away for now doesn’t mean that noise damage has not occurred, resulting in an increased risk of chronic tinnitus down the road.
Individuals tend to underestimate the minimum volume that damage begins to occur, which is the most significant contributing factor to its development. Damage has most likely already happened if you’re experiencing tinnitus. If this is the case, identifying and changing the source of the noise damage is crucial to prevent further damage.
For instance, you could try:
- If possible, try to decrease environmental volume. If you have any machinery that’s not in use, turn it off, and shut the windows if it’s noisy outside, for instance.
- Decreasing the amount of time you spend in loud environments without giving your ears a chance to recuperate.
- Prevent damage by utilizing hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs. Noise canceling headphones can also be an asset in this regard.
How to deal with your symptoms
Many people who experience persistent tinnitus find the symptoms to be tremendously distracting and unpleasant. This prompts them to attempt to find a way to ease the severity of their symptoms.
If you hear a ringing or buzzing sound, it’s important to schedule an appointment, particularly if the sound doesn’t go away. We will be able to assess your symptoms and identify how best to manage them. For the majority of cases of persistent tinnitus, there’s no cure. Symptom management may include the following:
- White noise devices: Using a white noise device around your home can help you tune out your tinnitus in some instances.
- Relaxation techniques: Tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be exacerbated by high blood pressure. So taking a little time to relax (with meditation, for instance) can sometimes help diminish your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hearing aid: This can help amplify outside sounds and, as a result, drown out the ringing or buzzing created by tinnitus.
- Retraining therapy: In some situations, you can work with a specialist to retrain your ears, gradually modifying the way you process sound.
- Masking device: This is a device that fits like a hearing aid and plays sounds to mask your symptoms. Your device will be specifically calibrated to mask your symptoms of tinnitus.
There’s no cure for tinnitus. That’s why controlling your environment to protect your hearing is a practical first step.
But treating and managing tinnitus is possible. We’ll be able to formulate a specific treatment plan based on your hearing, your tinnitus, and your lifestyle. A white noise machine, for many, may be all that’s required. In other situations, a more intensive approach may be needed.
Make an appointment to learn how to regulate your tinnitus symptoms.