3rd January 2015
Tinnitus Myths, Seven Of The Most Common
Myths Around Tinnitus That Stop People From Getting Treatment
There are many myths around the condition of tinnitus, the key for us is to balance them with facts. Tinnitus can be a real problem for people who suffer from it and there is a real lack of knowledge about it in the wider domain. we are often told by a Patient that a medical professional told them that there is nothing that can be done about it. That is simply not true, although there is no known cure there are many treatment methods to help somebody with Tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sound that is inaudible to others. It very often accompanies hearing impairment. The primary symptom of the condition is ringing, hissing, or buzzing in the ears, although there are many variations on the actual sound. Tinnitus is not actually a disease, , it is a symptom that results from a possible range of underlying causes. Our understanding of this condition has increased dramatically over the last seven years because more and more research is being undertaken.
It is now believed that tinnitus is caused by overactive neurons in the brain centre for hearing. The theory is that these neurons are underused perhaps because of hearing loss, and then become sensitive to some other input. This causes the sense of ringing, we have known for some time that if we treat an underlying hearing loss, quite often the tinnitus recedes. Lets have a look at the tinnitus myths,
MYTH 1: There is nothing I can do about tinnitus.
The Facts: Many people go to their doctor with complaints about ringing or buzzing in their ears and are told that there is little they can do about it. Tinnitus is just something you will have to deal with is often the response or try to ignore it. It is simply untrue, there is a lot that you can do to lessen the effects of the condition. As we said before, there is no known cure for tinnitus but there are treatments that work.There are many proven treatments that have a beneficial effect on perception of Tinnitus such as;
Sound Therapy An important element in treatment of tinnitus is the use of sound as a therapy. Sound therapy can be as simple as properly amplified sound from hearing aids, environmental influences, music, or noise generators. All of these solutions can be used to help minimise the contrast between the buzzing or ringing of Tinnitus and the surrounding sound environment. In our clinic we often find that treatment with hearing aids solves the Tinnitus issues for Patients who suffer hearing loss and accompanying Tinnitus, .
Tinnitus Counselling Counselling sessions aligned with other treatments with an experienced hearing healthcare professional trained in managing the condition can help. The initial assessment will help determine the underlying cause of your Tinnitus and identify a treatment plan. The treatment should help minimise the negative impact that the condition may be having on your quality of life. The effects of the condition on your quality of life can often be lessened by a combination of counselling and sound therapy. It is an effective treatment in most cases.
Tinnitus Management Devices Tinnitus management devices have been around for a very long time, they generally look like hearing aids and have special sound producing technology, to help you get relief from the condition. There are a many Tinnitus maskers available on the market, most use some combination of generated noise to mask the ringing or buzzing. Many hearing aid manufacturers have introduced tinnitus masking features into their hearing aids
There is an interesting strategy from Widex called ZEN, it is not a traditional Tinnitus masker, although it can be set to issue noise, it also issues ZEN tones, a special type of tone that has been shown to mask tinnitus and reduce the accompanying stress. If you have Tinnitus and a hearing loss, Widex ZEN tones can be incorporated in a number of Widex hearing aids. If you don’t have hearing loss along with your Tinnitus, Widex ZEN tones are available in the ZEN2GO devices
Here is an example of a ZEN tone:
Relaxation exercises Stress can often make your Tinnitus worse and the increased ringing or buzzing can often make your stress worse. It can be quite a vicious circle. It can be difficult but it can be very helpful to focus on something else. This reduces the focus on Tinnitus and will begin to help you relax. Read a book, go for a walk, and practice breathing techniques and relaxation exercises.
MYTH 2: Tinnitus is temporary. It will go away soon.
The Facts: Some forms of Tinnitus are temporary and are usually caused by recent exposure to loud noise. Others are more long-lasting or may consist of recurring episodes. The condition affects people in many ways. According to the National Health Service, there are several different “sounds of Tinnitus.” These tinnitus sounds can be categorized as the following:
Mild tinnitus This form of the condition can often be masked by louder sounds. People with mild Tinnitus may only notice the ringing or buzzing in their ears when in very quiet surroundings like when trying to sleep or reading a book.
High-pitched tinnitus Most people experience Tinnitus as a high-pitched hissing, whistling, or buzzing in their ears. Sometimes these sounds are related to your posture – you may only hear them when you are sitting or lying down, or when you turn your head a certain way.
Low-frequency tinnitus Sometimes Tinnitus can be heard as a low-pitched sound like a rumbling.
Musical hallucinations Very Rarely, Tinnitus will manifest itself as a musical hallucination that leaves you hearing a song repeatedly in your head.
MYTH 3: There are pills that will provide a tinnitus cure.
The Facts: Some companies will try to point you to a miraculous cure where a few pills will cure your Tinnitus. It is simply a scam, there is no known cure for tinnitus at this time, there is no compound herbal or otherwise that can be ingested to cure or reduce the effects. While there has been much research undertaken around the effects of medication and vitamin supplements on Tinnitus. There is currently no proven cure for the problem, only Tinnitus management devices and sound therapy have been proven to decrease the effects of tinnitus.
MYTH 4: Hearing aids can’t help tinnitus.
The Facts: Hearing aids are one of the most effective ways to beat the condition in most cases. In particular where Tinnitus is accompanied by a hearing loss. For hearing aids to be helpful for these type of tinnitus patients they need to:
• Provide maximum amplification for very quiet environments thus reducing the contrast between tinnitus and silence
• Limit the overall loudness of sound delivered to the ear in noisier environments, which may be critical for people with hearing loss
Because the hearing loss is being treated with the amplification needed, the effects of the condition are no longer much of an issue. This strategy can be combined with sound therapy that can be used when Tinnitus may become overbearing.
MYTH 5: Tinnitus and hearing loss aren’t linked.
The Facts: Many people with Tinnitus will also have a hearing loss. In fact a recent French study showed that of 123 people who suffered with tinnitus, only one did not have an accompanying hearing loss. The BTA, British Tinnitus Association estimates that 90 percent of people with Tinnitus also have a hearing loss. Moreover, research says that those who don’t may have a “hidden hearing loss.”
MYTH 6: I never listened to loud music, so I won’t get tinnitus.
The Facts: Noise exposure in any form is definitely a cause of Tinnitus, most people’s earliest experience of Tinnitus is after leaving a noisy concert or music venue. Noise exposure is both a leading cause of both Tinnitus and hearing loss, you should protect yourself from both by wearing appropriate ear protection in noise. However it is believed that there are several more triggers, here are some accepted Tinnitus triggers in an infographic produced by Widex:
MYTH 7: Tinnitus is a new condition caused by MP3 players. People didn’t have it in the old days.
The Facts: Tinnitus has been around for at least as long as people have been writing things down. A 2004 study says that even people in ancient Egypt made reference to the condition. Other research shows that the great composer Ludwig Van Beethoven suffered from the condition. So it is not a new condition brought on by modern life.
Myths like these don’t help people who suffer from Tinnitus, misinformation like this may stop somebody from seeking help. Or worse misinformation like this may cause them to spend money on something that could never work. If you have any issues with Tinnitus or you want to have your Tinnitus assessed, don’t hesitate to contact us on 01624 830722
