Here I’ll try to help you begin to understand more about tinnitus. We’ll looks at:
- Exactly what is tinnitus – i.e., what do we mean by “tinnitus”
- What it sounds like and how it affects different people.
- Some of the known causes of tinnitus.
- Theories about tinnitus.
What Do We Mean By and What Is Tinnitus?
What Is Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a medical term for any noise which people hear in one ear, both ears or in their head. These sounds do not come from outside the head, although they may occasionally sound as if they do. Apart from one or two rare conditions, tinnitus cannot be heard by anyone other than the person who has it.
What Does Tinnitus Sound Like?
Tinnitus sounds can take a variety of forms, such as buzzing, ringing, whistling, hissing, or a range of other sounds. For some people it can even sound like music. Sometimes people only notice these sounds when it is very quiet, such as at night. Other people find that they are much louder and can intrude on everyday life. Sometimes tinnitus noise beats in time with your pulse – this is known as pulsatile tinnitus.
What Is Tinnitus – Everybody Has A Slightly Different Experience?
This is how some people have described their tinnitus:
- “Like a plane engine.”
- “A ringing which is worse in the morning.”
- “A slight rushing which I only hear when it is quiet.”
- “Exactly like a generator in my right ear.”
- “A bee buzzing.”
- “Tuning fork in my left ear.”
- “A slight rustling.”
- “Like a cricket.”
- “Constant drone of different noises.”
What Is It Like To Have Tinnitus?
The effect that tinnitus has on different people can vary tremendously. Whilst most people are not bothered by their tinnitus, others find that it has a serious effect on the quality of their lives.
What Is Tinnitus Caused By?
what is tinnitus caused by
People often think that one of the causes of tinnitus is serious illness, although this is rarely the case. They may assume that they will develop a hearing loss as a result of tinnitus – whilst tinnitus can be associated with hearing loss, many people with tinnitus have normal hearing.
Some people find tinnitus quite frightening. They worry that it will get louder, or go on forever, or that they will never be able to enjoy complete silence again. They may find that reactions about what causes tinnitus from friends, family or medical professionals can be quite negative, which can make them feel worse. Some blame themselves, or even someone else, for their tinnitus, which in turn makes them feel guilty or angry. These are all very normal reactions. People with tinnitus often find they also have sleep problems, which usually improve as their condition gets better.
“When I first heard my tinnitus I was quite frightened because I didn’t know what it was and I imagined all kinds of horrible things. My tinnitus sounds like a rushing noise, which is more noticeable to the right where I get a whistling noise as well. It is worse when I am tired or stressed, those things definitely play a part and seem to be some of the causes of tinnitus for me.”
“I worried and worried, my husband worried too… some people at work had had it and said such things about what causes tinnitus I became quite frightened… they really scared me.”
People are often most affected by tinnitus when they first get it and it can make them very stressed. The stress makes their tinnitus worse, which in turn makes them more stressed – a vicious circle. It is important to remember that help for tinnitus is available and with time you will learn to understand and manage it.
What Is Tinnitus And How Is It Treated?
One of the best cures for tinnitus I know of is the holistic Tinnitus Miracle method – there’s a video review of it on the home page of this site, or you can check it out by clicking here.
“My tinnitus is much better now. I don’t hear it at all when I’m busy. It doesn’t bother me any more. I’ve got my life back.”
“The tinnitus is much better. I hardly give it a thought. I don’t think about it unless someone asks me how it is. I have no problems sleeping or anything.”
What Is Tinnitus And How Common Is It?
Most people have experienced brief periods of tinnitus at some time or another. It is quite common to have it for a short while after you have been exposed to loud noise. Tinnitus is very common in people of all ages and so it’s important to realize that you are not alone.
In 1987 the MRC Institute of Hearing Research based in Nottingham, UK carried out a study to better understand what is tinnitus, and how prevalent it is.
They found that:
- 10% of adults have had tinnitus for longer than five minutes.
- 7% of adults have been to see a doctor about their tinnitus.
- 4% of adults have tinnitus that annoys them moderately or severely.
- 1% of adults have had tinnitus that severely affects their quality of life.
- 0.5% of adults have tinnitus that affects their ability to lead a normal life.
What Is Tinnitus – What Do We Know About It?
In 1953 two researchers called Heller and Bergman put a group of young, healthy students in a soundproof room. None of them had tinnitus and none really understood what is tinnitus, so it was a blind study. They were then asked to record what they could hear. Although none of them could hear any external sounds, nearly all of them reported hearing sounds and noises – sounds which were the same as those reported by people with tinnitus.
This shows that in the right environment many people can experience the sound of tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus In Some People And Not In Others?
It is important to remember that tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. There are many different causes of tinnitus. Medical science is gaining a better understanding of what is tinnitus and how is it treated – we do know that tinnitus can be linked to exposure to loud noise, hearing loss, ear or head injuries, some diseases of the ear, ear infections or emotional stress. It can also be a side effect of medication, or a combination of any of these things. We will explore some of these causes of tinnitus and tinnitus treatment in future articles.
However many people with tinnitus have never experienced any of the above and don’t have a hearing loss. There are several theories and ongoing research as to what happens when you have tinnitus.
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