What tinnitus is, and ways in which you can reduce your symptoms.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss:
Tinnitus is when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people usually can't hear it. Tinnitus is a common problem. It affects about 15% to 20% of people, and is especially common in older adults ( Mayo Clinic, 2021).
Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system ( Mayo Clinic, 2021).
Studies have shown that up to 90% of people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. Loud noises can damage the hair cells in the inner ear and the auditory nerve, this can lead to both tinnitus and hearing loss.
Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, most of the time hearing aids can help make both conditions more manageable. If you suffer from tinnitus it is important to have a baseline hearing assessment completed by an audiologist in order to monitor your hearing and related symptoms throughout the years.
Remembering to use hearing protection is also crucial to help prevent noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
Tinnitus can often be exacerbated by the substances mentioned above, as they can restrict blood flow to your ears. If you can try to limit your intake of these substances to see if they help alleviate some of the ringing in your ears.
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