Tinnitus: What is it?
A constant ringing in your ear is starting to take over your everyday life. Rhythmic pulses come and go; replaced and added by irritants like buzzing, roars, whistles, hums, squeals, and even more. This is a life-altering phenomenon- and it's called tinnitus.
Tinnitus is formally known as the perception of sound that doesn't have an external source, meaning no one else can hear it. It might seem niche, but this is actually a common condition that anyone can have. The severity of tinnitus can come and go, but is only considered chronic if it lasts for more than three months or worsens over time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for it yet; however, scientists have been diligently working to develop new treatment strategies to alleviate pain.
Causes
The most common factors that may cause tinnitus are known to be noise exposure, hearing loss, medications, an ear infection, or even head or neck injuries. This is a long list! Let’s begin to unpack it. Many with hearing loss who have experienced aging or noise exposure tend to develop tinnitus (although this is not always the case). This can explain why although it can be found in children, tinnitus is most common in adults and the elderly.
Other factors are damage to the ear's structure, either from injuries or an infection where the ear canal is warped and/or nerves are impaired. This changes the way sound is perceived and sent to the brain, leading to phantom noises. Other less common factors of tinnitus can be associated with jaw problems such as grinding or clenching, tumors, blood vessel problems, and even chronic conditions.
However, some people develop this condition for no known reason. Personally, my mother has tinnitus, and although she’s very strong-willed, this ringing is sometimes unbearable for her.
“It’s so frustrating. I’ve been to the doctor for it, and they don’t understand what’s wrong; I’ve tried special ear ringing medication, and it hasn't helped. I just wish I could put my ears on mute.”
Just last year, she went to an outdoor event where she was freezing at the onset of winter weather—a big mistake. This one event seemed to highly trigger and escalate her symptoms, and they have not seemed to improve since. But what causes this perception of noise?
A simple way to think of it is that the nerves in your ear that carry signals to your brain are damaged. This area of your brain, called the auditory cortex, develops phantom sounds that may even communicate with other parts of the brain such as parts that control attention and emotions. Studies have shown that in some cases, tinnitus plays a role in changing these non auditory brain regions as well. All’s to say that if you know someone with tinnitus, be patient: they are fighting a battle in their brain!
Treatments and Research
Many methods of alleviating the pain associated with tinnitus are very niche, such as sound therapies which help with noise perception, and behavioral therapies which can reduce negative thoughts about the condition. Because there are so many factors that play into this, and there is no set treatment method, trying these tactics might yield insignificant results in many patients.
Luckily, many investigators at numerous research centers around the country are hoping to better understand the condition to develop new treatment strategies. Much of these research efforts are aimed at using electrical stimulation to activate areas of the brain; although trials have concluded with mixed results, it is a step in the right direction. In addition to shock therapies, many scientists are working to determine the mechanisms that cause tinnitus to identify drugs that can control it; they have recently identified a drug that reduced tinnitus in mice and are working to develop one for people. So, there is hope!
Having tinnitus can be extremely isolating and distressing; especially as this condition is not widely known about. However, with continued support and advocacy, there is hope for improved treatments and ultimately, a future where tinnitus no longer dominates one’s daily life.
Article by Alissa Zhu
Sources:
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus#:~:text=Tinnitus%20
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156
