Did you ever go to a concert or a pub where an awesome band was playing?
Maybe you totally enjoyed the music, only to find that your ears were “ringing” when you got home – or until you woke up, and maybe even until later the next day?
Now, what if that noise didn’t go away?
Can you imagine how hard that would be to deal with?
Or maybe YOU are dealing with it? Every. Damn. Day.
Noise or ringing in the ears affects about 15 – 20 % of the population, making a person “hear” the sounds of ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or humming. They may be intermittent or persistent. The noise can vary in pitch; it might be heard in one or both ears, and it can be so loud that it interferes with the ability to concentrate or hear external sounds.
It’s good to know that it’s usually a symptom of an underlying condition that isn’t considered as a serious disease – hearing loss, ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder.
If an underlying cause can be treated, a person may find relief.
Many times, tinnitus is a lifelong sentence of a private hell
and the most that can be done is to try to reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.
People try to describe the noise, but it’s so personal because only the sufferer can hear it.
Here’s some good news!
I’m going to be interviewing an audiologist soon.
So I’m inviting you…
Ask your questions here about tinnitus so I can ask the doctor!
Do you have tinnitus?
Tell me what you want to know.
Put your questions for the doctor in the comments below!
Does wearing hearing aids hasten more hearing loss? Plus the louder the tv, the quicker the hearing loss?
I have tinnitus that sounds like energy..,old television tubes warming up. I’ve read about new surgical treatments and pills and want to avoid those. I just try to refocus all the time. I explain to people that I hear really well, just overwhelmingly. I need to hear there’s hope. Yoga and gameplay take my mind off it, usually!
Hi Karen, thank you so much for your comment. I know tinnitus is a terrible infliction! The interview with Dr. Josh Bowyer was filmed a couple days ago and it will be published in the next 2 or 3 weeks – actually, there’s a Part 1 and 2 because there was so much to cover! There IS hope. Please stay tuned!
Can tinnitus cause you to be off balance?
What a great question! I’ll be asking the audiologist about that!
Does continued use of earbuds/headsets increase the chance of getting and worsening the effects of tinnitus?
GREAT question! I’ll be asking this when I interview the audiologist!
Can TMJ cause tinnitus in one ear? Thanks.
Yes! TMJ can cause tinnitus
Can tinnitus cause my ears to ring?
Tinnitus is your ears ringing or any of the various mentioned noises.