![]() ![]() The majority of the patients’ audiograms revealed that they had a similar level of hearing loss in both ears, in the high frequencies (4 to 8 kHz). In the end, the researchers uncovered a significant correlation between the discomfort of living with tinnitus, and levels of depression and anxiety.Īmong the study participants, the average duration of the tinnitus was six years and nine months. Tinnitus is unique to every individual who experiences it, and as such, the best treatment option depends on a combination of factors specific to each patient.Ī team of six researchers at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Rome set out to determine the level of tinnitus-related distress in 80 chronic tinnitus sufferers, and also whether those patients suffered from psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression. Others with more severe symptoms may require acoustic therapy, such as partial or total masking of tinnitus sounds with an alternative sound, or behavioral therapy, which can help patients to disassociate tinnitus with negative behavioral reactions. As a majority of people with tinnitus also report having difficulty hearing, most patients will benefit from a combination treatment for both their hearing loss and tinnitus, such as being fitted with a hearing aid. However, there are many treatment options available which can significantly improve the quality of life for those who experience chronic ringing or buzzing in the ears. There is currently no single cure for tinnitus. In these cases of congestion or blockage, treatment of tinnitus may be as simple as removing the obstruction or treating the infection. Pressure in the inner ear, caused by congestion or a blockage in the ear canal, can also cause short-term tinnitus, as objects such as ear wax, loose hair, or dirt can irritate the eardrum and contribute to the perception of sounds in the ear. There are two main factors which can lead to auditory damage and eventually, tinnitus: exposure to loud noises (this can have prolonged, such as in the workplace or sudden and intense such as an explosion), and the loss of hair cells in the inner ear that is considered part of the normal aging process. Loss of hearing, which can develop gradually or quite suddenly, is the most common cause of tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus, or hearing one’s heartbeat in the ear, can in rare cases signal a serious medical complication and should be medically evaluated if it occurs frequently. This kind of tinnitus is commonly connected to cardiovascular issues, such as damaged blood vessels or a heart murmur. Objective tinnitus is much rarer, and occurs when someone else-such as a doctor-can also hear the sounds that a person with tinnitus is hearing. ![]() Ototoxic drugs, or medications that damage the nerves in the ear, can also lead to subjective tinnitus. When hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, the brain doesn’t receive the auditory signals that it is expecting and creates the illusion of sound to compensate for those missing signals. This type of tinnitus is strongly associated with hearing loss. Subjective tinnitus-which is far more common and makes up 95 percent of all cases-is when the sounds can only be heard by the person experiencing tinnitus. There are two main types of tinnitus based on potential causes. An Italian research team has recently found that people who experience chronic tinnitus also have a much higher incidence of anxiety and depression compared to the general population, which is all the more reason to seek treatment for tinnitus if it becomes bothersome. Chronic tinnitus, the experience of hearing constant sounds that come from inside your body, rather than an outside source, can be a difficult condition to cope with, leading in some cases to stress, anxiety, and depression if left untreated. But for some people, the sound of a buzzing, ringing, or whistling in their ear is constant and persistent, with the volume increasing at night and in quiet moments throughout the day. This often follows a prolonged exposure to high volumes, such as a rock concert. Many of us have had the experience of our ears “ringing” for a short while. ![]()
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