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The Malady of Tinnitus: Its causes and origins, and the relationship of hearing loss to tinnitus
Part 1
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Tinnitus: a very personal affliction
I'd like to address an increasingly common malady we are facing these days: Tinnitus. This is seemingly becoming a more common problem among our population, affecting about 50 million Americans to some extent. This problem ranges from being mildly irritating to downright debilitating. We at Advanced Hearing Plus Inc. will try to provide some hope for those who suffer this malady. Meanwhile, if you need immediate help, you can contact The American Tinnitus Association, P.O. Box 5, Portland, OR 97207; 800-634-8978. Their website can be accessed at www.ata.org.
What Tinnitus is and is not
For some people, tinnitus is just a nuisance. For others, it is a life-altering condition. First, we need make it very clear that tinnitus is NOT a disease. It is a symptom of a rather elusive array of problems that occur somewhere in the auditory system. The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) defines tinnitus as "the perception of sound when no external sound is present."
Where do the problems leading to Tinnitus occur?
The actual problems may occur in any or all of the following places: the nervous system, the ear, the brain. While it is thought to be most often generated in the brain, the cause is usually from damage to the inner ear. Quite a bit of research is being conducted in this field, but no "magic bullet" solution looms on the horizon for this distressing condition that ranges from mildly irritating to debilitating.
How does Tinnitus manifest itself?
Tinnitus is often described as a "ringing" in the ears, but it can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Some people hear a "chirping" sound, some a roar, some clicking, some even hear 16 part harmony! One customer of ours hears the song, "You are My Sunshine", over and over!
What causes Tinnitus?
It is believed that tinnitus is caused by damage done to the cochlea, which is susceptible to the affects of aging and excessive noise exposure. Age and noise are two common causes; others are head trauma, heredity, vascular abnormalities in the brain, ear, or brainstem, cardiovascular disease, or acoustic neuroma (a rare tumor). Ototoxicity is also a concern. Many drugs and chemicals have an audiological impact, causing hearing loss and tinnitus.
Noise-induced tinnitus may be caused by a sudden loud sound, as with a gunshot, or may occur gradually over time — attending loud concerts, for instance. A person may experience a kind of ringing in the ears for a few minutes after a loud concert. After attending another loud concert, the ringing in the ears may occur again, lasting several hours. Repeated noise exposure may cause tinnitus to become a constant irritating companion. Understandably, most tinnitus cases are accompanied by noise-induced hearing loss. On the other hand, there are some individuals who have a hypersensitivity to sound with tinnitus; these individuals may or may not have a hearing loss.
Is there a cure?
Research is ongoing. While no cure has yet been found, the Tinnitus Clinic at the Oregon Health & Science University and the ATA have made great strides in attempting to discover the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this troubling symptom. What may alleviate tinnitus for one individual, may have no affect on someone else. Tinnitus is a very personal affliction.
Relationship of Tinnitus to Hearing Loss
One thing research has shown is that tinnitus rarely occurs in the absence of hearing loss. High frequency hearing loss can creep up on a person. Over time, the intensity of the high frequencies can diminish, but the person doesn't notice the gradual lessening of hearing ability. So, oftentimes, a person may begin noticing the tinnitus and seek help for it, not aware that he has a hearing loss. In fact, in a study of their male patients, the Tinnitus Clinic has noted that noise-induced hearing loss is probably responsible for causing tinnitus in a high percentage of them. They note that an early warning signal of noise-induced hearing loss is the presence of tinnitus.
We will explore other facets of this symptom: how to avoid it, various types of tinnitus, what treatment options are available, how to live with it, how to help others who are afflicted with it, and more. |
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| (Article 0706, Part 1. Originally published July 2006) |
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