Don’t let anyone tell you the sounds are not real! Some people look at tinnitus as a psychosomatic condition and do not give the patient the respect that he or she deserves. The fact that there is no apparent external stimulus causing the internal sound does not make the sound any less real for the patient.
“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” This broad statement made in many science classes is quite applicable to tinnitus cases. At times the sounds may be loud enough and distracting enough that the patient may feel like you can hear it too. This is especially true for children. For example, “Grampa, I hear a water fall in my head, can you hear it too? Put your ear right next to mine so you can hear it better.” That is a time to ask the child for more information and to believe him or her. Do not respond with a put off or a put down like “Don’t be ridiculous, I can’t hear a waterfall.”
Your ears are a vital part of the human body and they aid in hearing a variety of sounds ranging from 20Hz-20,000Hz. Ears are vulnerable to various types of infections, foreign bodies and wax formations. Tinnitus is a condition that cannot be classified as a disease but may result from this wide range of causes.
It is the perception of sound within the ears that does not correspond to external sound. Tinnitus can also originate because of a natural hearing impairment as a result of aging procedure; it might even be a side effect of particular medications.
Because tinnitus is a subjective experience it cannot be measured by traditional hearing tests. The intensity of tinnitus can range from slight to severe depending on the symptoms experienced by the individual. These consist of interference of sleep and distractions to performing daily duties. Usually tinnitus is most prevalent amongst older individuals. It could be experienced in both ears and even within the head. It’s generally heard as a ringing, buzzing, or a high pitched annoying hissing sound. Some people who are affected by tinnitus may also have a hearing loss. In some cases the internal sounds are such that they mask and interfere with external sounds, thus resulting in a loss of hearing. For example, “I hear the bell choir but I cannot tell if the sounds are coming from inside my hear or from outside.”
Long term tinnitus, such as in chronic cases might lead to fatigue, irritation, hallucinations and even depression. Objective tinnitus is also real. It happens because of muscle spasms that cause crackling sound inside the middle ear, although that is rare. Tinnitus is correlated with memory loss problems, poor health, fatigue and frequently leads to anxiety and stress. It can be a serious health concern for many people.
The condition can be treated depending on its intensity and its kind and its duration. Many treatments involve behavior modification and cognitive retraining to learn how to cope with the never ceasing sounds. Some involve masking the sounds. Some of the treatments consist of cleaning the ear canal, utilizing a neurostimulator, or a gamma knife surgery in extreme cases. Drugs are accessible as well. Nevertheless, some with the best and easiest treatments are totally natural and holistic.
Since there is no known cure for tinnitus, prudence suggests you investigate all possible avenues of treatment offering relief. A supportive climate is far more conducive to healing, adapting and minimizing internal sounds than a stressful or antagonistic atmosphere. Support groups can be helpful for many people who have ringing ears all the time. Some research has provided useful insights here too. Some benefits may be found from a wide variety of treatments including such holistic approaches as acupuncture or hypnotism in addition to traditional medical or surgical venues. Be cautious about treatments promising cures and instant results. Attitude, lifestyle, diet and exercise all may be factors to consider when treating the person with tinnitus and helping him or her adapt to whatever cannot be changed.
When is tinnitus too much? It is different for each person with ringing ears.