Tinnitus is an exceptionally common condition of the ear. Some estimates suggest that 10 percent of people have tinnitus at one time or another, making it one of the most common health conditions in the world. Although the most common manifestation of tinnitus is a phantom ringing or buzzing in your ear, it can also present as other sounds too.
Unfortunately, the causes of tinnitus aren’t as obvious as the symptoms. Some of the wide range of tinnitus causes are temporary, while others can be more permanent.
This is why environmental factors can Have a major impact on tinnitus symptoms. After all, every environment has a soundscape, and when that soundscape is loud, you could be causing damage to your ears. If your tinnitus is a result of damage, it may end up being permanent.
What is tinnitus (and why is it so common)?
When you hear noises that aren’t actually there, that’s tinnitus. For most individuals, tinnitus manifests as a ringing or buzzing, but it may perhaps also present as rumbling, humming, screeching, or other sounds as well. Normally, the sounds are constant or rhythmic. Tinnitus will usually clear itself up after a short time period. Though not as common, chronic tinnitus is effectively permanent.
Tinnitus is so common for a couple of reasons. The first is that the environmental factors that contribute to tinnitus are also quite common (more on that soon). Root conditions and injuries can bring about tinnitus symptoms and that accounts for the second reason. In other words, there are many such injuries or conditions that can cause tinnitus. As a result, tinnitus tends to be quite common.
How can the environment affect tinnitus?
There are a large number of factors that can contribute to tinnitus symptoms, including ototoxic chemicals and medications. However, when most individuals talk about “environment” when it comes to tinnitus, they really mean the noise. Some settings, such as noisy city streets, can get very loud. Likewise, anybody who works around industrial equipment all day would be at risk of their environment worsening their tinnitus.
These environmental factors can be incredibly important when considering your hearing health.
Noise induced damage, as with hearing loss, can activate tinnitus symptoms. In these cases, the resulting tinnitus is often chronic in nature. Here are some of the most common noise-related causes of tinnitus:
- Noise in the workplace: Lots of workplaces, including offices, are frequently the source of loud noises. Whether it’s industrial equipment or chatty office neighbors, spending eight hours a day around constant workplace noise can eventually result in tinnitus.
- Traffic: Traffic in heavily populated areas can be much louder than you might expect it to be. And noise damage can occur at a lower volume than you may expect. Tinnitus and hearing damage can be the result of long commutes in these loud settings.
- Events: If noise is loud enough, even over short stretches, tinnitus can sometimes be the outcome. For example, attending a concert or using firearms can both result in tinnitus if the volumes reach a high enough level.
- Music: Listening to music at high volumes is a fairly common practice. Doing this on a regular basis can often cause tinnitus symptoms.
Hearing damage can happen at a much lower volume than people usually expect. Consequently, it’s important to wear hearing protection before you think you may need it. Hearing protection can help you avoid tinnitus symptoms from developing in the first place.
If I have tinnitus, what should I do?
So, does tinnitus go away? Maybe, in some instances. In other cases, your symptoms could be permanent. There’s no way to know which is which at the outset. Moreover, just because your tinnitus has reseeded doesn’t mean that noise damage hasn’t happened, resulting in an increased risk of chronic tinnitus in the future.
Individuals tend to underestimate the minimum volume that damage begins to happen, which is the most significant contributing factor to its advancement. If you experience tinnitus, your body is telling you that damage has already likely occurred. If this is the situation, identifying and changing the source of the noise damage is essential to prevent additional damage.
Here are some tips you can try:
- Lowering the volume of your environment where possible. For example, you could close the windows if you live in a noisy area or turn off industrial machinery that isn’t in use.
- Stop damage by utilizing hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs. You can also get some degree of protection from noise canceling headphones.
- If you’re in a noisy setting, regulate the amount of exposure time and give your ears breaks.
Dealing with symptoms
The symptoms of tinnitus are often a huge distraction and are quite unpleasant for most people who deal with them. As a result, they often ask: how do you calm tinnitus?
You should call us for an appointment if you’re hearing a persistent buzzing or ringing in your ears. We can help you determine the best way to address your specific situation. For the majority of cases of chronic tinnitus, there’s no cure. Symptom management might include the following:
- Retraining therapy: In some instances, you can work with a specialist to retrain your ears, slowly changing the way you process sound.
- White noise devices: In some instances, you can tune out some of your tinnitus symptoms by using a white noise generator around your home.
- Masking device: This is a device that fits like a hearing aid and plays sounds to mask your symptoms. The precise calibration of your device will depend on your specific symptoms.
- Relaxation techniques: Tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be worsened by high blood pressure. So taking a little time to relax (with meditation, for instance) can sometimes help reduce your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hearing aid: The ringing or buzzing created by tinnitus can be drowned out by amplifying the volume of external sounds with hearing aids.
There’s no cure for tinnitus. That’s why controlling your environment to safeguard your hearing is a practical first step.
But addressing and managing tinnitus is possible. We’ll be able to develop a specific treatment plan based on your hearing, your tinnitus, and your lifestyle. For some, dealing with your tinnitus might simply mean utilizing a white noise machine. For others, management might be more demanding.
Make an appointment to find out how to regulate your tinnitus symptoms.
