Ringing ears can be the remnants of a good time for concert-goers or, in less-entertaining situations, signs an individual is recovering from the flu.
The condition in which an individual has the perception of sound when no corresponding external sound is present is known as tinnitus, and it often goes away after a day or two. There are some individuals, however, who have chronic tinnitus and experience ringing or buzzing in their ears daily. Although there is not currently a cure for chronic tinnitus, there are steps one can take to minimize the impact.
Perhaps the main reason there is not a cure for tinnitus is that doctors are still working to understand more about the condition.
“Our working understanding of tinnitus is that the brain generates activity that we perceive as sound, and everyone’s perception of their tinnitus sound is different,” says Dr. Amy Sarow, a Michigan-based audiologist. “Everyone experiences tinnitus differently. Some find the presence of their tinnitus relatively benign and aren’t bothered by it, while others find it annoying.”
Sarow explains most people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss, and the brain is searching for a sound it once heard. This leads to the brain responding by increasing the spontaneous nerve-firing rate, and the result is a ringing, buzzing or chirping in the ears.
“In 80 to 90% of tinnitus cases, permanent inner hearing loss is the underlying cause,” she says. “Noise-induced hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus.”
Sarow notes conditions like earwax build-up, fluid in the ear, allergies and sinus or upper respiratory infection can cause tinnitus to temporarily worsen. Meniere’s disease, autoimmune inner ear disease, sudden sensorineural hearing loss and other forms of hearing loss can cause tinnitus, she says.
Claire Collord Johnson, an audiologist and manager of clinical services for United Healthcare Hearing, states certain medications may lead to hearing loss.
“There are currently over 450 prescription and over-the-counter medications that can cause tinnitus,” Johnson says. “Medications where this has been a side effect include certain cancer treatments, certain blood pressure-controlling medications, certain antibiotics, quinine-based medications, water pills and diuretics and antimalarial medications.”
Audiologist Allie Treseder says the best way to prevent tinnitus is actually quite simple.
“Avoid exposure to excessive noise and wear ear protection when appropriate,” she says. “It’s also important to maintain good hearing health by having regular checkups with an audiologist.”
Sarow encourages everyone to protect their ears with ear plugs or noise-reducing headphones when in loud environments such as concerts or when using power tools.
“Limit your time in these environments or use hearing protection,” she says. “Also reduce headphone volume to 60 to 70% of the maximum volume.”
Johnson says it is important for those experiencing hearing loss to seek care “as soon as possible.”
“Wearing hearing aids when the condition first arises may help your ears adapt to the re-introduction of lost sounds more effectively, preserving the brain’s ability to process language,” she says, encouraging people suffering from hearing loss to check their health plan for options available.
Sarow points out that although there isn’t a cure for tinnitus, that doesn’t mean there aren’t treatment options.
“Treatment for tinnitus can take on several different modalities, including auditory or limbic or both,” she says. “Auditory treatment targets changing the sound or sound perception of the tinnitus, such as sound therapy. Limbic treatment modalities work with the emotions that accompany tinnitus perception, like cognitive restructuring and cognitive behavioral therapy. Tinnitus retraining therapy and tinnitus activities treatment are two treatment options that incorporate both limbic and auditory modalities.”
