Doctor’s Advice: When Do Maskers Not Work for Tinnitus?
Masking is one of the most relied upon methods to manage tinnitus. Many times this tinnitus remedy is effective, but sometimes it’s not. Just when do maskers not work for tinnitus?
Generally, a huge population of tinnitus sufferers can take the advantage of wearing maskers. That’s because majority of people with tinnitus only suffer from it to a mild or moderate degree. Simple masking is enough to cover the noise heard inside the ears in these cases. Severe cases of tinnitus may not respond to plain masking. There are also cases of tinnitus that are not well alleviated by pure masking.
When tinnitus ringing in the ears is associated with hearing loss, masking alone will not work satisfactorily. Audiologists prescribe hearing aids in this case. In some cases, a special device that combines a hearing aid and masker is used. Audiologists generally assess the type of tinnitus a patient is suffering from before fitting a masking device. The broadband noise emitted by the masker should be adjusted to match the loudness and pitch of tinnitus perceived.
The Difference Between Subjective and Objective Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition that affects our hearing. It normally creates an incessant noise in one or both ears. This noise may sound like a ringing, clicking, hissing, buzzing, chirping, whooshing or roaring. Aside from that, it is not exactly a disease but just a symptom of an underlying health problem. Once you hear the noise that tinnitus brings, it is imperative to consult your physician and learn more about this condition. One of the most important things that you must know, apart from what your tinnitus ringing in ears treatments options are, is the difference between subjective and objective tinnitus. Below is a brief discussion of what these kinds of tinnitus are.
Objective tinnitus basically creates a noise that can also be heard by other people aside from the person who has it. Usually, it is caused by muscle spasms that result to a clicking or crackling sound. Pulsatile tinnitus which is caused by the abnormality in the blood flow and brings about a noise that sounds like a heartbeat is one of the most common types of objective tinnitus.
On the other hand, the noise that a subjective kind of tinnitus brings may only be heard by the person who has it. The most common cause of this kind of tinnitus is hearing loss which is oftentimes a result of the over or sudden exposure to loud levels of sounds. Apart from that, ototoxity or the intake of ototoxic drugs like aspirin is also blamed for the noise that subjective tinnitus creates.
There are so many things that you must know about tinnitus before you get any kind of medical treatment for tinnitus. Moreover, remember that there are so many things that you can do not only to make your condition better but also to avoid acquiring it. Be aware of this devastating condition and protect yourself from it.
What is Tinnitus? Read These Seven Tips
If you are asking “what is tinnitus,” it is a perception of an unpleasant noise emanating inside your ears. It is usually called ringing in the ears. Most of the time, the condition is subjective. Meaning, only you can hear the noise inside your ears. Hence, the noise is called phantom noise.
In usual cases, it is impossible to stop ear ringing, but there are ways to minimize it. Here are some of them:
1. Ignore it. Tinnitus seems to become louder the more you put attention to it.
2. Reduce stress. Research shows that stress worsens an existing tinnitus. De-stressing is important for people with this problem.
3. Relax. It’s hard to relax when your ears are ringing like hell. But appropriate relaxation techniques can be learned for your advantage.
4. Play soft music. Some pleasant sound can help take away your attention from the ugly noise inside your head.
5. Go out. There is nothing more stimulating than inhaling fresh air and listening to nature sounds. Just stop going to noisy disco houses, or you’ll worsen your tinnitus.
6. Have your hearing screened. Tinnitus may be accompanied by hearing loss, so it’s wise to step into a doctor’s clinic to find out if your hearing is declining. You can also ask your doctor for the right tinnitus information which can help you cope with your condition.
7. Smile. You’re not going mad. Tinnitus isn’t supposed to make your life difficult. You’re just fine!
Sensitive Hearing: Diminishing Tolerance to Sound
People have some tolerance limit to sound. At certain intensities, sound becomes intolerable for many. But there are people who suffer from sensitive hearing, and they are unable to withstand even ordinary noise. This hypersensitive hearing disorder occurs with or without hearing loss.
Sensitive hearing arises due to hyperacusis, phonophobia, and misophonia. Hyperacusis is a condition that arises from a shift in the processing of sound. Even average sound levels can trigger abnormal reaction as though excruciating noise is heard. In misophonia, only specific types of noise are disliked. People with misophonia detest some noises, which do not at all cause any reaction to the rest. Extreme aversion to noise is called phonophobia or fear of sound, which occurs in people who believe that any noise will cause damage to their hearing.
Abnormal hearing sensitivity may be selective, in which the affected patients may dislike only certain types, but not all, noises. For instance, clattering of kitchen utensils, scratching of boards or surfaces, creaking of doors, and blowing of car horns can irritate these people. However, they may be able to listen to other sounds, like music, even at higher volumes. A significant number of people with poor sound tolerance have hyperacusis, phonophobia, and misophonia. Hearing sensitivity may not be a product of damage to the inner ears. In many cases, failure of the brain to process sound properly leads to errors in sound perception.
Let us explain the mechanism behind sensitive hearing. As we know, the auditory nerve consists of thirty thousand fibers, which carry information to the brain. No hearing occurs until the impulses reach the conscious part of the brain. The brain does a complex task at such a very short span of time of processing the incoming impulses, filtering unwanted sound and amplifying perception of relevant sound impulses.
In the case of hypersensitive hearing, the brain reacts abnormally to what other people would regard as regular noises. The perceived excruciating noise gives rise to negative emotional reactions. People with hyperacusis or misophonia tend to avoid noises. Then they develop fear of sound or phonophobia. Soon this affects their daily life. They cannot have normal conversations with people. They cannot perform their duties normally. Even small noises can irritate them. Going to public places can become a dreadful thing.
Abnormal hearing sensitivity is caused by several factors. Frequent use of ototoxic medications can cause damage to the tiny delicate structures in the inner ears. Some antibiotics and antihistamines can cause damage to the inner ear in the long run. NSAIDs can cause such damage too. This damage leads to different hearing problems like tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis. Experts also think that stress is a huge factor in the collapse of hearing tolerance. This is probably because stress stimulates the release of certain chemicals in the body, which affect the ears and the brain. Physical injuries can also lead to damage to the auditory system. For instance, a person who suffered a whiplash may develop abnormal hearing sensitivity. People with malfunctioning brainstems may also have abnormal tolerance to noise and certain sounds. There could be other causes of sensitive hearing, but audiologists cannot possibly identify all causes.
There are different ways to treat hypersensitive hearing, but none of these methods are thought to be very effective. Doctors can prescribe medications to reduce sound intolerance. Some medications are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, migraine medications, and anti-seizure drugs. Prolonged use of these drugs is not recommended at all because of considerable side effects.
Devices may also be used to counteract hyperacusis and other forms of hearing hypersensitivity. Two common devices are earplugs and tinnitus maskers. Earplugs, however, cannot offer long term benefits because they hinder the process of habituation. For you to be able to adapt to the noises, you should be able to hear them, and earplugs do the opposite. Tinnitus maskers, on the other hand, are designed especially for tinnitus sufferers. Masking devices help people be able to tolerate noise.
Sometimes abnormal hearing sensitivity is dealt with through psychological approaches. Counseling may be done to help patients understand that what they are going through is not threatening at all. A more thorough approach is retraining therapy, in which similar therapy applied to tinnitus sufferers is ordered. It is a combination of psychotherapy and sound therapy. One reason affected people should go to psychologists is to help them cope with depression or anxiety that develops as they suffer from their abnormal hearing.
Surgery becomes an ultimate option, but is only chosen if the patient is suffering from dysfunctional cochlea or severe hearing loss due to physical abnormalities within the hearing system.
There are certain things you should do to keep your suffering at a minimum. Exposure to noise should be avoided, especially loud sound or music, because it could damage your hearing further, leading to worsening case of your hypersensitive hearing. Caffeine and alcohol should be kept away, as they cause disturbances in your blood pressure and body chemistry. Also, avoid substances that trigger migraine; such substances include MSG, chocolate, and aged cheese. Certain medications should be discontinued; ask your doctor regarding safe drugs that are not ototoxic.
Treatment for Tinnitus: 3 Steps to Relief
Tinnitus is a nagging condition in which you hear high-pitched noise inside your ears. It sounds weird, but a lot of people have it. This condition is usually caused by noise exposure, inducing irreparable damage to the inner ears. Generally, there is no exact treatment for tinnitus whether it is a conventional or a natural treatment for tinnitus. However, there are certain things that can make your suffering less troubling.
1. Avoid caffeine because it raises the blood pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is not good for people with ringing ears because it can worsen the problem. Caffeine also excites the nervous system and elevates levels of stress hormones. Both effects may aggravate tinnitus.
2. Stress is an aggravating factor to tinnitus, so you have to manage it effectively. Relaxation techniques can help you fight stress. Building your immunity will also make you more resistant to stress.
3. Improve your diet by including healthy foods. There are no restrictions as long as you eat the right food at the right amount. A healthy diet should be good for anyone suffering from constant ear ringing.
