Tinnitus and it’s management

Amit Kumar MauryaSenior Audiologist & Speech therapist Zen Hospital, Mumbai

TINNITUS Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual

external noise is present. While it is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears,” it can manifest many different perceptions of sound including - Buzzing, Hissing, Whistling, Swooshing, and Clicking.

Types of tinnitus Subjective Tinnitus: Head or ear noises that

are perceivable only to the specific patient. Subjective tinnitus is usually traceable to auditory and neurological reactions to hearing loss, but can also be caused by an array of other catalysts. More than 99% of all tinnitus reported tinnitus cases are of the subjective variety.

Objective Tinnitus: Head or ear noises that are audible to other people, as well as the patient. These sounds are usually produced by internal functions in the body’s circulatory (blood flow) and somatic ( musculo-skeletal movement)  systems. Objective tinnitus is very rare, representing less than 1% of total tinnitus cases.

SymptomsRingingHissingStaticCricketsScreechingWhooshingRoaringPulsingOcean wavesBuzzing Dial tonesEven music

Commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears.”

• Tinnitus is a symptom associated with other health conditions.

• Tinnitus is not a disease in and of itself, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. In most cases, tinnitus is a sensor neural reaction in the brain to damage in the ear and auditory system.

• While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, there are roughly 200 different health disorders that can generate tinnitus as a symptom.

Causes

Hearing LossAge-related hearing loss

(presbycusis)Noise-induced hearing loss Obstructions in the Middle EarHead and Neck TraumaTemporomandibular Joint

DisorderSinus Pressure and Barometric

TraumaTraumatic Brain Injury (TBI)Ototoxic Drugs

Other Diseases & Medical ConditionsTinnitus is a reported symptom of the following medical

conditions:Metabolic Disorders: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism,

AnemiaAutoimmune Disorders: Lyme Disease, FibromyalgiaBlood Vessel Disorders: High Blood Pressure,

AtherosclerosisPsychiatric Disorders: Depression, Anxiety, StressVestibular Disorders: Ménière's Disease,Thoracic Outlet

Syndrome, OtosclerosisTumor-Related Disorders (very rare): Acoustic Neuroma,

Vestibular Schwannoma, other tumorous growths

Related Conditions

Tinnitus is affiliated with a range of co morbid conditions, including vestibular disorders, audiological problems, and behavioural health issues.

Limbic system is responsible for controlling various functions in the body. Some of these functions include interpreting emotional responses, storing memories, and regulating hormones.

It is also involved with sensory perception, motor function, and olfaction.

Related Conditions

Hearing LossMénière's

DiseaseHyperacusisMisophoniaPhonophobiaDepression

and AnxietyOther

Vestibular Conditions

General WellnessDietPhysical ActivitySocial ActivityRecreational Activities

and HobbiesStress ReductionHearing Protection

Neuromonics Tinnitus Therapy:

 This treatment uses a combination of testing, counselling and specialized masking with white noise to help you to effectively manage and gradually reduce your response to the tinnitus.

This treatment can take six months or more to complete but has a very good rate of success.

Hearing Aids: Most people with

tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids create a dual benefit of enhancing hearing and masking and attention effects or covering up the tinnitus, Auditory Stimulation, Improved Communication.

The majority of patients with tinnitus receive partial or complete relief from their tinnitus with the use of hearing aids.

Sound-Masking Devices:

Tinnitus maskers are small electronic devices that look like hearing aids and are tuned to generate sound that masks or covers up the tinnitus. Like hearing aids, they may provide relief from the tinnitus, but will not enhance hearing and may interfere with understanding speech.

Many types of devices, such as fans, radios and sound generators can be used as tinnitus maskers to help tinnitus sufferers to fall sleep or get back to sleep.

Behavioral Therapies

Cognitive: Involving or related to the functions of attention, knowledge, memory, judgement, reason, and decision-making.

Behavioral: Involving or related to physical, emotional, and psychological action

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

(ACT)

With Tinnitus Without Tinnitus