Quite simply, Tinnitus is the perception of sounds—often described as ringing, buzzing, humming, roaring, or whistling—that are not present in the external environment.
The term Tinnitus does not refer to a single disorder, but rather describes a collection of symptoms that may have a number of different causes. Each person’s Tinnitus experience is unique, and very real.
How common is Tinnitus?
Over 50 million Americans experience Tinnitus to some degree.1 And approximately 10 to 15 percent of adults have prolonged Tinnitus requiring medical attention.2
For most people, Tinnitus is a mild annoyance and may be temporary. However, more than 2 million American adults (1 to 2 percent of the population), experience severe, chronic Tinnitus.
Because Tinnitus can be a symptom of a more serious condition, any prolonged experience of Tinnitus should be evaluated by a medical doctor.
What impact does Tinnitus have?
Chronic Tinnitus can affect a person’s work, family, and social life. It can interfere with sleep, make it difficult to concentrate or to relax, increase sensitivity to loud sounds and lead to anxiety and depression.
What causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of factors and each individual case is unique. Tinnitus typically occurs in the auditory system as a result of hearing loss.
This hearing loss can result from exposure to loud noises, certain types of drugs and medication, middle ear infections, or other reasons.
In a small proportion of cases, Tinnitus arises from a condition that requires medical or surgical intervention.
Once the Tinnitus signal is generated in the auditory system, another part of the brain (the limbic system) attaches an emotional response to it. Similar to the “feeling” you get when you scratch your fingernails down a blackboard, Tinnitus is more than just a perceived sound. Tinnitus can trigger anxiety and stress responses in the body which, in addition to the limbic system, also involves the autonomic nervous system.
Is there help for those with Tinnitus?
Yes! Until recently, the only available options were treatments that addressed the symptoms (such as anxiety) and not the root causes of Tinnitus. Now there are many new advances that address the neurological, audiological and psychological basis of Tinnitus.
What is YOUR next Step?
The next step is to make an appointment with the Audiologists at HEARING PARTNERS of SOUTH FLORIDA for a Tinnitus evaluation. Call 561-638-6530 today. This evaluation is very different from a hearing evaluation and involves special diagnostic tests that allow the Audiologist to identify the pitch and intensity of your Tinnitus so that the appropriate treatment protocol can be selected.
Bring the following forms with you to your appointment to help the audiologist in your evaluation:
1 The American Tinnitus Association
2 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
