It isn’t uncommon for individuals to have ringing in their ears, also known as tinnitus. It’s one of the most common health conditions in the world with some estimates suggesting that up to 10 percent of the population experiences it at one point or another. Even though the most common manifestation of tinnitus is a phantom ringing or buzzing in your ear, it can also present as other sounds too.
While the prevalence of tinnitus may be evident, the causes are frequently more opaque. In part, that’s because tinnitus may be caused by a wide range of causes, some of which are temporary and others that can be more long lasting.
This is why environmental factors can Have a major impact on tinnitus symptoms. If the background sound of your particular setting is very noisy, you could be damaging your hearing. This environmental tinnitus may sometimes be long lasting or it may sometimes react to changes to make your environment quieter.
What is tinnitus (and why is it so common)?
Tinnitus is a condition that causes you to hear a noise that isn’t really there. For most individuals, tinnitus manifests as a buzzing or ringing, but it may also present as rumbling, humming, screeching, or other sounds as well. The sounds are usually rhythmic in nature. Tinnitus will normally clear itself up after a short period of time. In less common cases, tinnitus could become effectively permanent, a condition known as chronic tinnitus.
Tinnitus is so prevalent for a couple of reasons. The first is that the environmental factors that contribute to tinnitus are also relatively common (more on that soon). Underlying conditions and injuries can bring about tinnitus symptoms and that accounts for the second reason. And there are lots of conditions and injuries that can trigger tinnitus. Tinnitus is rather common for these reasons.
How can the environment affect tinnitus?
There are a large number of factors that can bring about tinnitus symptoms, including ototoxic chemicals and medications. But when it comes to “environmental” triggers, noise is the biggest offender. For instance, some locations are louder than others (traffic noise in some settings can get extremely high). Somebody would be in danger of environmental tinnitus, for example, if they worked around loud industrial equipment.
When evaluating the state of your health, these environmental factors are very important.
Noise induced damage, as with hearing loss, can activate tinnitus symptoms. When tinnitus is caused by noise damage, it’s usually chronic and often permanent. Here are a few of the most common noise-related causes of tinnitus:
- Noise in the workplace: Many workplaces, including offices, are frequently the source of loud noises. Whether it’s industrial equipment or gabby office neighbors, spending eight hours a day around continuous workplace noise can eventually result in tinnitus.
- Events: If noise is loud enough, even over short stretches, tinnitus can sometimes be the outcome. For instance, attending a concert or using firearms can both result in tinnitus if the volumes reach a high enough level.
- Music: Listening to music at loud volumes is a pretty common practice. Doing this on a consistent basis can frequently cause tinnitus symptoms.
- Traffic: Traffic in heavily populated locations can be much louder than you may expect it to be. And noise damage can happen at a lower volume than you might expect. Long commutes or regular driving in these loud settings can eventually result in hearing damage, including tinnitus.
Damage to the ears can occur at a far lower volume than people usually expect. Consequently, it’s essential to wear hearing protection before you think you may need it. Hearing protection can help prevent tinnitus symptoms from developing in the first place.
If I’m experiencing tinnitus, what should I do?
So, does tinnitus go away? Perhaps, in some cases. In other situations, your symptoms could be irreversible. There’s no way to know which is which at the beginning. Moreover, just because your tinnitus has gone away for now doesn’t mean that noise damage hasn’t happened, leading to an increased risk of chronic tinnitus down the road.
People often underestimate the minimum volume that damage starts to happen, which is the most significant contributing factor to its development. If you experience tinnitus, your body is telling you that damage has already probably occurred. If this is the situation, finding and changing the source of the noise damage is essential to prevent additional damage.
Here are a few tips you can try:
- Wearing hearing protection (either earplugs or earmuffs) in order to prevent damage. Noise canceling headphones can also be an asset in this regard.
- Limiting the amount of time you spend in noisy environments without giving your ears a chance to recover.
- If possible, try to lower environmental volume. If you have any machinery that isn’t in use, turn it off, and close the windows if it’s noisy outside, for instance.
How to deal with your symptoms
The symptoms of tinnitus are often a big distraction and are quite unpleasant for the majority of individuals 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 ringing or buzzing in your ears. We can help you determine the best way to manage your specific situation. There’s no cure for the majority of kinds of chronic tinnitus. Symptom management might include the following:
- White noise devices: Using a white noise device around your house can help you tune out your tinnitus in some cases.
- Relaxation techniques: High blood pressure has sometimes been linked to an increase in the severity of tinnitus symptoms. Your tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be alleviated by utilizing relaxation techniques like meditation, for instance.
- Hearing aid: This can help amplify other sounds and, as a result, drown out the ringing or buzzing produced by tinnitus.
- Masking device: This is a device that fits like a hearing aid and plays sounds to mask your symptoms. The exact calibration of your device will depend on your specific symptoms.
- Retraining therapy: In some instances, you can work with a specialist to retrain your ears, slowly changing the way you process sound.
Tinnitus has no cure. That’s why managing your environment to protect your hearing is a practical first step.
But tinnitus can be addressed and treated. Depending on your lifestyle, your hearing, and your tinnitus, we’ll be able to formulate a specific treatment plan for you. A white noise machine, for many people, may be all that’s necessary. For others, management may be more intense.
Make an appointment to learn how to regulate your tinnitus symptoms.
