Tinnitus: 5 Reasons for Ringing Ears

Ringing in your ears, known as tinnitus, may not seem like a big deal. But for many, it’s a condition that can interfere with your day-to-day activities and quality of life. Thankfully, there are several ways to relieve the problem.

Tinnitus is also a common complaint. Nearly 45 million Americans report some type of tinnitus, according to audiologist Graham Peckerstein, MD. For about 15 million people, the problem is described as bothersome and impacts their lives.

“Many may have problems sleeping, relaxing or reading a book because the tinnitus is always there,” says MD Peckerstein. “It can cause stress, anxiety and even depression.”

Causes of tinnitus

While the exact cause of tinnitus is typically unknown, one common cause is exposure to sounds that are too loud for too long. If you work in a noisy environment like a factory, construction site, or even a busy and crowded exercise facility, it can expose your ears to levels of sounds that put them at risk. Using power tools, lawnmowers and leaf blowers for extended time periods can harm your hearing, too. One of the first signs of sound-induced damage is the presence of a soft, or sometimes not so soft, ringing in your ears.

Tinnitus is one of the most common service-related disabilities among veterans returning from different wars, too, according to the National Institute on Hearing Impairments

No matter your age, it’s a good idea to take steps to protect your ears and hearing. To reduce your risk, it’s important to physically remove yourself from loud sounds, turn down the volume or wear hearing protection. The longer you are in a loud environment without protecting your ears and hearing, the risk for hearing loss and tinnitus increases.

5 Reasons nobody talks about

Besides sound-induced causes, there are a few lesser-known potential causes of tinnitus. They include:

1. Ear wax. Something as simple as a buildup of ear wax in your outer ear may cause your ears to ring. Your healthcare provider can remove the wax to eliminate the ringing.
2. Medications. Some medicines may affect your hearing. High doses of aspirin, certain antibiotics, antidepressants and chemotherapy drugs may cause tinnitus. Check with your healthcare provider to determine if any medications you take could be a culprit.
3. Dental issues. Ringing ears sometimes may relate to a non-auditory problem with your jaw or teeth. For example, a temporomandibular joint (TMD) disorder can cause noises like popping or clicking in the joint in your jaw. If you recently had dental work or your jaw is bothering you, you may want to revisit your dentist. Sometimes a night guard or a dental orthotic device can help with dental issues and stop the annoying sounds you’re hearing.
4. Head injuries. If you were in a motor vehicle accident recently or you bumped your head, that ringing you hear may be a symptom of a biomechanical problem of the head, neck or jaw. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns after your head injury. To help prevent a head injury, wear head protection if you play high-contact sports, such as hockey, or if you work at a high-risk location, such as a construction site.
5. Diseases. Ringing in your ears is sometimes a symptom of a medical condition, such as Meniere´s disease.  This occurs when abnormal fluid pressure builds up in your inner ear. Hypertension and diabetes may cause tinnitus as well and need to be addressed with your doctor.

Work with your audiologist to find relief

“Before you pursue any non-medical options for tinnitus management, you need to see a doctor to rule out any underlying problem requiring medical or surgical intervention,” says MD Peckerstein. “The next step is to have a hearing test done by an audiologist to determine if hearing loss could be the cause as well as to determine if you can benefit from sound therapy.”

Unfortunately, at this point, there is no FDA-approved medication to treat tinnitus. The majority of management options are non-medical and should be directed by your audiologist who may work with other specialty professionals such as a dentist, a physical therapist or a psychologist to find the best treatment option for you. 

These may include different types of counseling such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or sound therapy such as fans, sounds apps on your smartphones, hearing aids or sound generators.

Hearing aids can do double duty

Hearing aids may be the answer to tinnitus for people who have hearing loss.

“By using hearing aids, you not only help reduce the awareness of the tinnitus, but you also improve your ability to hear as well,” says MD Peckerstein.

Some hearing aids have a built-in sound generator that produces ocean wave sounds or white or pink noise. These sounds provide relief by decreasing your awareness of the tinnitus by having your brain pay attention to the other neutral, non-threatening sounds. This promotes a process called habituation (helping you get to a point where you no longer pay attention to the tinnitus), which eventually will allow you to be aware of your tinnitus only when you actively listen for it.

“In this case, the tinnitus is not gone, but you no longer pay attention to it unless you focus on it,” she says. “Our goal is to get you to the point where you’re basically tuning the tinnitus out.”

Reasons for Ringing Ears: a Conclusion:

All in all, don’t just wait and hope your tinnitus will go away. Talk to your primary care physician and audiologist if you notice ringing in your ears or other problems with your hearing. They can help you pinpoint your problem and help you find the relief you need.

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Is Tinnitus Genetic?

To break the meaning of tinnitus down, it’s simply any sound emanating in your ears or head, which you are the only person that can hear it. Research has shown that 9% to 23% of the entire population is dealing with tinnitus symptoms. Constant ringing in the ears can exist in different forms. While you are dealing with buzzes in hears, others might complain about high-pitched ringing in their ears. In other words, the frequency and pitch of the sounds may also differ.

Nevertheless, a common characteristic of tinnitus is that patients find it exasperating and disruptive. If care is not taken, it can ruin your focus and quiet time. You might find it difficult to listen to others clearly and even communicate effectively. Sleep could be affected, and severe stress and anxiety could emerge.

Irrespective of the severity, the frustrating sounds are coming from your brain – and not from the outside world. Tinnitus is characterized by synapses’ breakdown due to damage. For instance, by exposing yourself to loud sounds, it can cause tinnitus as you grow older. However, tinnitus can also emerge due to some other causes. 

While various individuals have given different reasons about the possible cause of their tinnitus symptoms, a common question that often surfaced is whether tinnitus has something to do with their genetics. If you have wondered the same, here is an extensive explanation, including an overview of various factors that can contribute to the treatment and management of tinnitus. Let’s begin!

Genetics and Tinnitus: Any connection?

A simple answer is there is a connection between tinnitus and genetics. From a 2018 study, it was demonstrated that a form of tinnitus, bilateral tinnitus, could be inherited. This outcome was considered as surprising and unexpected as it’s a revelation that there is a genetic influence for bilateral tinnitus, more pronounced tinnitus in males. This is in contrast to the conventional view about tinnitus being propelled by environmental conditions, according to Jonas Andersen (A doctor at Copenhagen University Medical).

Although the knowledge about the connection is still at the early stage, it’s important to focus on whether there is any family history of the condition. According to Brainworks, the impact of the breakthroughs that analyze tinnitus’ genetics would be enormous for tinnitus patients. This development will enable the personalisation and optimization of therapies for affected individuals. The publication further reveals that the most promising data is still pending, which will provide the needed insights about the role of genetics in primary chronic tinnitus. For now, it’s recommendable to visit a certified audiologist to evaluate your hearing if you have any known tinnitus history in your family. 

How to determine the presence of genetic-based tinnitus

With hearing tests, you can determine the state of tinnitus severity. A qualified audiologist will assist in this regard, especially if it’s a persistent ringing or buzzing noise. During the first appointment, the audiologist is likely to ask some questions to better understand the tinnitus symptoms and your feelings about the condition. 

Additionally, the medical personnel will attempt to understand the influence of tinnitus in your daily activities. Also, whether you are experiencing any emotional symptoms due to the persistent sounds or not will be considered. Afterward, you’ll be recommended for a hearing test. This helps determine if there are any external conditions influencing the situation and your discomfort. 

Possible facilitators of tinnitus, such as structural damage or earwax build-up, will be considered during the assessment. In this way, the medical expert can confidently develop a treatment plan for your specific type of tinnitus. From there, a pure-tone test will be conducted to understand your general hearing. This involves using tone to determine the level of sound that you can hear specifically. This refers to the lowest level of sound that you can perceive. Additionally, the audiologist needs to determine your tinnitus’ pitch and intensity. 

Lastly, it is important to review your complete medical history to understand the possible external and genetic factors that could be facilitating the tinnitus symptoms. This review, alongside the results from initial consultation, physical assessment, and pure-tone test, will help the medical expert determine the overall treatment plan to help manage the situation.

Genetic tinnitus: Any possible treatment?

A correct intervention can help relieve your hearing condition. In fact, there are several ways to administer tinnitus treatment. However, the most effective approach is sound therapy. Otherwise known as Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, it is combined with directive counseling to deal with tinnitus symptoms. This personalized approach helps understand the critical factors related to hearing.

Some audiologists also combine the approach with pointed questions to determine the tinnitus’ pitch, loudness, and the patient’s reaction to the various kinds of stimuli. Interestingly, the sound therapy approach has been found effective for immediate relief and long-term reduction of the symptoms. The objective of the sound therapy approach is to assist patients to reach a level where they do not need to replace tinnitus with a soothing sound due to a reduction in exasperating sounds.

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Tinnitus and Emotional Processing – Is there a relationship?

Globally, several people are dealing with tinnitus – a condition that could be very exasperating and exhausting. For those who are not familiar with the medical condition, tinnitus is usually a symptom of an underlying health condition. Affected individuals suffer from constant or loud ringing in ears. 

As a tinnitus patient, you have probably wondered how constant ringing in the ears could have something to do with your emotions. The more irritated you feel about the tinnitus symptoms, the more it affects how the brain processes emotions. 

Essentially, the brain is influenced by high-pitched ringing in ears because it will naturally try to adapt. So, what exactly happens to the emotion of an individual who suffers from tinnitus? Read on to find out more!

Tinnitus and Emotions

Research conducted at the University of Charlottesville showed that tinnitus patients process emotional sounds differently, and also, there are differences in the areas of the brain used for processing emotions. The participants of the study had an MRI, and researchers noticed a change in the brain’s blood oxygen levels.

Furthermore, researchers assessed the participants’ brain activity with and without tinnitus. Every participant was subjected to the same amount of pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant sounds such as children giggling, a bottle of water opening, and a baby crying. MRI results from people with tinnitus revealed an increase in certain parts of brain activity when subjected to emotional-triggering sounds.

The results were compared based on the varying degree of tinnitus severity among the patients. Afterward, a comparison was also made among the non-tinnitus participants. The essence of the comparison was to determine people’s reactions and how they adjust to the sounds. While some tinnitus patients adjusted comfortably to the sound, others couldn’t do the same. Hence, the severity of tinnitus is an important factor in our emotional processing of sounds.

Relationship between tinnitus and emotional processing

Every individual experiences different levels of tinnitus in terms of severity. In other words, an individual’s experience is unique. While some could be bothered by tinnitus, others might only feel irritated occasionally. And for some people, it can reduce their life quality. It’s not unusual to see some individuals having to deal with anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritability, depression, and/or mood swings.

For instance, the study performed at the University of Charlottesville started with participants having tinnitus being given a survey to assess their life quality and symptoms. A second MRI was performed on the participants after the study. This showed that people with less severe tinnitus managed to process emotional information in a different way. This group appeared to use more of the brain’s frontal lobe to manage emotional sounds. This happens because the frontal lobe typically helps in focusing attention during situations while controlling impulses.

Final note

Tinnitus could be frustrating and irritating. Hence, it’s understandable if it’s taking a toll on your emotional state. From the research, it is apparent that an increased frontal lobe activity may assist in controlling emotional response. Consequently, it can help limit tinnitus symptoms. In other words, don’t be overly crossed with yourself when you don’t feel good as a tinnitus patient. This is completely normal and fully manageable.

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Turmeric and Tinnitus: What are the lowdowns?

For some time now, the sunny orange spice has been popping up in most cafes. While the refreshing drink is surely pleasant to the palate, a turmeric latte offers a lot more. For those who are familiar with Indian cuisine, you are likely to know turmeric as the golden spice in meals. Whichever way and unless you are a medical expert who is familiar with turmeric, there is a good chance that you are not aware of the numerous health benefits associated with turmeric.

For those who are dealing with ringing in ears, otherwise known as tinnitus, you might find turmeric’s compounds even more exciting. This is because turmeric has been reported to contain healing bioactive compounds that don’t only help against inflammation but aid hearing. If you want to learn more about why many refer to turmeric as a golden spice, especially its influence in treating tinnitus, here is an enlightening read for you. Let’s begin!

Anti-inflammatory property

Given the association of inflammation with several common chronic diseases, any news concerning possible inflammation treatment is always a big one. Curcumin, a nutritional compound in curcumin, has been reported as a therapeutic agent in diseases by several medicinal journals, published clinical findings, and alternative medicine reviews.

The bioactive compound is suspected of helping against diseases such as pancreatitis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and some specific cancers. With the promising initial studies, scientists have already commenced clinical trials to further assess the health benefits of curcumin and turmeric to the human body.

2. Possible solution against tinnitus symptoms

Tinnitus and tinnitus have been associated in several studies. For those who are experiencing tinnitus for the first time, it’s a symptom of an underlying condition in the body. Currently, there is no reported cure for tinnitus, despite its wide prevalence. However, by understanding the underlying condition, it’s possible to manage the symptoms. For instance, medical experts can help manage ear infections or hearing loss. If the situation persists, masking devices or psychotherapy are other possible solutions.

With the paucity of treatment for tinnitus, turmeric could be the game-changer for managing buzzing in ears. According to studies, turmeric extracts exhibit a positive anti-inflammatory response to ear conditions. Furthermore, middle ear infections, a common facilitator of tinnitus symptoms, could be treated with turmeric. In fact, it is known to have the same effect as using antibiotics.

3. Antioxidant properties

Turmeric has also been reported to contain antioxidant properties that can assist in lowering the intensity and discomfort associated with tinnitus symptoms. Reactive oxygen molecules (free radicals) contribute to inner ear damage and hearing. This is common as a part of the exposure to loud noise and the natural aging process.

When hearing issues arise, tinnitus could emerge as one of its symptoms. In this case, turmeric can be used as an oral antioxidant therapy to reduce the production of harmful free radicals that contribute to the hearing issue.

4. Possible use alongside chemotherapy

Treatment for cancer and some diseases require the use of certain strong drugs. Some of these drugs are known to instigate tinnitus as part of their side-effect. Nevertheless, we cannot stop using drugs in the face of deadly diseases such as cancer. For this reason, it becomes pertinent to find a solution. 

Fortunately, researchers have shown that administering curcumin alongside chemotherapy works for managing the side effects associated with hearing issues. In fact, the animal studies revealed promising results concerning a combination of turmeric and other treatments that involve drugs, which could be ototoxic – meaning harmful to the ear and hearing.

Turmeric and Tinnitus: a Conclusion

If you are already dreaming about using turmeric to manage your tinnitus, it’s not as straightforward as it seems. The turmeric used in clinical studies is in extract form, which involves a couple of processes to get. The kitchen turmeric is spices collected from the ground root of the plant. While these spices may not be as effective as the extract, many emphasized that consuming turmeric helped improve their health and wellness. The best approach is to visit a local audiology clinic or health professional to guide you concerning the correct usage of turmeric supplements and dosage.

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Tinnitus impairment and Alcohol: Is there any relationship?

For those with friends or relatives dealing with hearing issues, you might have probably heard them say drinking can contribute to hearing loss. While this could be true in some cases, a decent consumption of drinks won’t result in hearing loss. Nevertheless, it‘s worth mentioning that there are documented effects of alcohol on the human brain that impairs hearing.

A poor hearing has been associated with heavy drinkers, especially in terms of latency and speed of response. This shows that brain stems are affected by drinking. For those who are probably getting to know this for the first time or lack in-depth knowledge about ringing in ears and the effect of alcohol, here is extensive information on what you should know. Enjoy reading!

Are ears affected by alcohol?

Within the ears are a considerable amount of very fine hairs. Whenever the hairs vibrate, it creates nervous impulses and sends electrical signals to the brain. According to studies, alcohol intake can influence such vital hairs and may lead to hearing problems among drinkers.

Furthermore, there is enough evidence to believe that toxic environments are created for hair when we consume a significant amount of drinks. The hairs become weakened and may lead to a failure in performance. The human body is incapable of replacing the hairs when they die off. Thus, the hearing gradually degrades with time.

Low-frequency hearing is a common outcome of such effects. For those who drink heavily, you might have experienced temporary difficulties in picking up conversations after taking a few beverages. This is simply known as cocktail deafness, otherwise known as temporary alcohol-induced deafness. It’s worth noting that cocktail deafness may last for a longer time and become more pronounced in the presence of sustained drinking. In other words, drinking heavily over a period can damage ear hairs for good.

Can alcohol cause tinnitus?

Buzzing in ears, otherwise known as tinnitus, is another common issue among heavy drinkers. While tinnitus is not as serious as losing your ear’s hairs, tinnitus could be quite exasperating and painful. Unlike the effects of alcohol on the ear’s hair, more people are aware of the relationship between tinnitus and drinking – it’s pretty simple.

When you drink alcohol, the blood vessels close to the ears will expand. As a result, the quantity of blood flowing to the ears will increase and result in fuzziness. Several tinnitus patients complain that irritations stemming from the condition get more pronounced with alcohol consumption. This creates harmful feedback that keeps recurring.

Tinnitus and Alcohol: a Conclusion

It’s never a great experience to deal with hearing loss or symptoms like tinnitus. For this reason, you are best advised to put in every effort necessary to lower such possibilities. One of such is lowering your alcohol intake. If you are already experiencing difficulties with tinnitus and alcohol, you are best advised to get in touch with a healthcare professional to prevent further damage. Stay healthy!

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Solving the Difficulty of Tinnitus Spikes: What You Should Know

If you have been dealing with tinnitus for some time, you are likely to understand the health condition, possible causes, and the frustrating symptoms already. However, how often do you notice a sudden rise in the severity? Have you been dealing with a tinnitus spike recently? Or perhaps, the situation seems to be getting out of hand?

Do not become excessively worried. In fact, tinnitus spikes are a common case, especially for those who seem to pay little attention to their health conditions or individuals who are simply finding it hard to get a remedy for a frustrating health condition.

If you would like to know why your tinnitus has been intensifying in recent times and possible controls and solutions, here is a comprehensive article to learn everything that you need to know. Let’s begin!

Introducing tinnitus spike

Understandably, many tinnitus patients consider a spike as an increase in intensity or volume of the ringing in ears. This is correct. However, it also implies a change in tone, sounds, or pitches of constant ringing in the ears. In other words, don’t be surprised if a new sound appears or the sounds become bothersome or intrusive. These situations form different types of tinnitus, which may last for minutes, days, or even months.

Regardless of the experience, tinnitus spikes are common difficulties that affected individuals have to deal with on most days. In fact, it is simply unavoidable for some patients. However, on the bright side, spikes do not mean there is notable progress, despite your treatment effort. Spikes are simply unavoidable in some situations, and more importantly, it is an aspect of the habituation process that patients must pass through to secure permanent relief.

To assist in your recovery process, it’s highly recommended to understand the underlying biology and psychology associated with tinnitus spikes. In this way, you’ll be able to cope better with the situation and even become more confident in getting through the recovery journey.

Causes of tinnitus spikes and the associated challenges

A tinnitus spike could be random in terms of experience. However, there is a good chance of being caused by a combination of different factors, which could be external or internal. The difficulty lies in understanding the cause of the spike.

In most cases, stress, sleep deprivation, and anxiety play a crucial role in intensified tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus occurs as a cycle. It often begins with a fight or flight stress reaction within the nervous system. Hence, stress or anxiety can aggravate the situation, while sleep deprivation can make the health condition even more disastrous.

Aside from the three major factors, specific tinnitus may also have a certain element that triggers tinnitus spike in the affected individuals. These could range from diet, environment to exposure. When such an element is identified, it could help proffer a lasting solution to the patient.

Check the common tinnitus triggers in the list below:

• Dehydration
• Stress
• Anxiety
• High sugar diet
• Certain noises
• Specific medications
• Supplements and vitamins
• High sodium diet
• Pollution
• Recreational drugs
• Allergies
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Certain changes in barometric pressure or weather as a whole.
• Food sensitivities
• Caffeine
• Loud noise and noise-induced hearing loss
• Nicotine
• Alcohol

Duration of tinnitus spike

A certain time frame cannot be put on how long a tinnitus spike will last because it varies from one patient to another. Ideally, it should be over within a few days. In the case of experiencing a tinnitus spike triggered by loud noise, ensure that you relax your ears to prevent additional damage to your ears.

Consider a tinnitus tracker

If you are yet to get a tinnitus tracker, you might consider getting one for yourself or affected relatives. This is because monitoring the possible triggers of your tinnitus daily could prove very useful in the long run. By identifying the triggers, it can help correct the health condition by simply modifying your lifestyle slightly.

For those who are under a tight budget, consider taking a meticulous note of the situation. This ranges from the diet, environment, to lifestyle. However, don’t be overworked if you don’t find a pattern, as several equations come into play when it comes to tinnitus and its spikes. It is important not to get worried over it because it can lead to anxiety and frustration that can contribute to the aggravation of tinnitus.

Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need to find the trigger to cope with ringing in ears. In other words, you can complete a habituation process successfully and recover fully without figuring out the cause of the tinnitus spike.

Tinnitus Spikes and Habituation

Aside from the obvious ringing in ears, several other events are ongoing when you are dealing with tinnitus. As humans, we are capable of tuning out and ignoring irrelevant sounds and even sensory perceptions by using a mental process. This process is known as habituation. Whether we want to or not, habituation occurs unconsciously every time. This is how we manage to discuss with our partners in noisy situations. The brain is automatically filtering out other noises to focus on your desired conversation.

However, humans are not capable of ignoring what the brain considers as the “important information” to focus on. This is usually sounds classified as dangerous, threatening, or problematic by the brain. Understandably, there is rarely anyone who would want to ignore the sounds of dangerous activities. Thus, rather than overlooking the sounds of tinnitus, it becomes a tussle between us and the sounds. This occurs as a fight or flight stress response that seems to never end. 

Over time, the response may get worse due to its implications on our emotions and psychology. In other words, anxiety, panic, frustration, anger, and hopelessness can continuously accumulate until the nervous system is recruited into a recurrent state of anxiety and agitation. In this regard, the positive news is that we can change our psychological, physiological, and even emotional state towards tinnitus sounds. By so doing, it is possible to reach a stage where we don’t give any attention to tinnitus again, despite still being there.

The challenge is that habitation takes time. It doesn’t matter the kind of strategy adopted; you need to take it one step at a time. Usually, it’s a case of two steps forward and one step backward. In other words, as you are making progress towards ignoring the sounds, there could be some cases of spikes. Consider it as an expected part of the whole process.

Why tinnitus spikes are unavoidable and quite difficult

First off, keep in mind that spiking doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong or you are not getting the recovery methodologies right. Also, it is not an indication that you are not recovering. Instead, a spike means the progress is temporarily on hold – a feeling of moving backward could materialize at this point.

Consider spikes and setbacks as unavoidable

On emotional and psychological levels, the negative emotional and psychological patterns that make tinnitus so depressing and frustrating will be triggered almost every time you experience a spike. However, the most crucial thing to keep in mind is that these experiences, such as anger, anxiety, frustrations etc., are temporary setbacks. Although it is a sign of a step backward, it only means putting the habituation process on hold till the spike is over. Spikes are like old memories that get triggered when certain situations align together.

How to cope with tinnitus spikes

Coping with tinnitus doesn’t take any special energy. The most important thing is control. You need to focus on what you can control. Some situations are simply beyond us. For instance, you cannot change the volume of tinnitus noise in any significant way or ignore the sounds by force of will. When you actively ignore a sensory perception, you are only giving it more attention.

Also, it is not possible to control the duration of a spike. Regardless of the emotions and thoughts that come with the spikes, you simply need to make peace with it and not try to force things. Some emotions will rush in; acknowledge, accept and embrace them. The storm will soon be over.

Put other senses in activation mode

Catching yourself quickly at the commencement of spikes is the best approach. Afterward, focus your energy on what you can control: Using every possible coping mechanism that you know. Regardless of the intensity of the spike or the situation, consider any coping mechanism that can help you feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable. Any activity that will distract you from the noise is also welcome. If need be, create background noise to mask the frustrating noises from your ears.

It’s recommendable to use a coping mechanism at a time. The amount of other sensory perceptions available at the time plays a crucial role in your ability to distract yourself from the tinnitus symptoms. This means that as you activate more senses, you stand a better chance of improving the situation.

Coping during tinnitus spikes: What are the limitations?

Regardless of the coping tools used or how perfectly it is done, there will always be a certain level of discomfort. This is the most difficult thing about coping with tinnitus spikes. Consider thinking about the severity of your tinnitus-related suffering. You may rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, with 0 being the most serious.

If the tinnitus spike is severe but suffering on a scale of 10, there is only a little possibility of getting as far down as 0. For instance, it is helpful to use background noise for distraction. However, it will only take the edge off the going down by two to three points at most. Masking alone means staying consistently on a seven or eight out of ten. By adding other coping mechanisms such as breathing techniques, mental relaxation activity, or physical exercise, you further improve the situation. Also, it is recommendable to visit friends, play a game or engage in some exercise collectively – it gives you extra points towards recovery.

Despite improving the situation, you may still be feeling some level of discomfort. It may also be exhausting to put a lot of energy into coping throughout the day. However, being consistent with the effort will get you to almost a perfect relief point. Every effort counts in the process, and you shouldn’t let any spike weigh you down. As you drift towards recovery, you can be sure of experiencing improved relief.

Beating tinnitus spikes improve your resilience

As stated earlier, it is impossible to avoid spikes. It is even an important aspect of the habituation process. In fact, a habituation strategy that promises a full process without any spike should be suspected. Every difficult spike that is successfully endured boosts your chances of beating the condition. It also improves your self-confidence.

Many people suffer panic and fear when tinnitus spikes occur, believing they have regressed in their effort to habituate with tinnitus. This belief will only create an emotional and psychological pattern that will continue reactivating the tinnitus – even if you have been coping nicely. When this happens, you may feel the suffering worse than before.

It would be a lie to deny that terrible negative thoughts will never rise. There is a good chance of experiencing such. Thoughts such as “Will this ever end?” or “how am I going to continue to suffer this way?” As a result of your concerns, your blood pressure may rise, and the same may happen to your heart rate. This does not contribute any positive development to your habituation process.

However, by managing to get through the challenging spike and bounce back, you will need no convincing concerning your ability to cope. Hence, it is advisable to expect the spike and watch yourself panicking. Instead, focus on your confidence and getting through the situation. Consider as many coping mechanisms as possible to get through the tough moments

. Believing in yourself will also help you succeed.

Find confidence in your coping ability

This is a short-term and long-term strategy towards achieving a successful habituation process. Self-confidence is crucial for living with ringing in ears across a lifetime. Even after successful habituation, spikes may occur in the future, despite the tinnitus no longer influencing your life quality. This is because you may get hit by a loud noise without any protection against it. Also, traumatic events, side effects of medication, injury, or illness can also lead to spikes.

In such situations, you might experience a tinnitus “relapse” and fall out of habituation. As a result, the vicious tinnitus cycle may kickstart again. However, considering you already have confidence in your coping abilities, you can easily and quickly help yourself and prevent unnecessary panic. At this point, you’ll find it less challenging to cope and regain your habituation state with tinnitus.

Conclusion

Before rounding up, it is important to seek help. While tinnitus spike is a terrible experience, it’s a chance for us to learn about overcoming adversity. Even the worst of spikes will come to an end. If you can remain calm and cope, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. More excitingly, you’ll become more resilient and confident than before.

Nobody says it’s going to be easy. However, effective coping techniques are available to complete the habituation process successfully. Regardless of how challenging it gets, always know that there is hope.

If you are experiencing ringing in your ears, consider a thorough hearing evaluation from an expert. This is because tinnitus and hearing loss commonly occurs in tandem. Getting the services of an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus treatment helps boost your chances of beating tinnitus quickly.

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Keep Christmas Merry: Socializing with tinnitus

Whether it’s autumn, fall, winter or summer, dealing with tinnitus can be challenging at any time of the year. However, things become even more difficult during the festive period, considering the higher number of invitations you are likely to receive.

From your work colleagues, team, friends to distant relatives, you want to meet everyone and enjoy the festivities together. In some cases, you might even be going out to the finest restaurant or attending the biggest concert in town. If you say no, you start feeling excluded and being isolated. Yet, the tinnitus in your head won’t stop screaming if you dare go to a crowded place or consume certain foods.

For this reason, you are constantly looking for excuses not to attend the next gathering or giving little to no attention to invitations. You prefer to sit at home and watch TV as your “Christmas special.” However, does it have to continue like this? Is there a solution to socialize despite having tinnitus? For prompt answers to your seemingly endless questions, here is an article that is written to help you.

Socializing with tinnitus

For you to continue reading, the situations above might have sounded familiar, or a relative is giving similar complaints. First off, you should know that this is not a one-person thing. In fact, a recent study showed that 4 in 10 individuals are dealing with tinnitus symptoms that are affecting their relationships with others. Thus, withdrawing or isolating from others could become a regular thing. 

However, does it have to continue like this every Christmas and New Year time? First off, you should be forthright with your ear condition when you meet family and friends. There is no shame or embarrassment when having to manage ringing in ears. In fact, considering that many are also tinnitus patients or previously affected, they are likely to offer helping hands or proffer solutions. And more so, since tinnitus is not a visible condition, people might not even realize it.

Be picky with restaurants

By informing your friends or families, they are likely to assist you by going out to less noisy environments or even sound-proof restaurants. It’s recommended to choose a restaurant having upholstered chairs, generous curtains, and low ceilings. This would lessen the amount of noise that could trigger your tinnitus. If you have some recommendable ideas in mind, feel free to suggest them to your friends. 

Other possible solutions

Consider the following solutions that can help you enjoy the festivity with your friends and families:

1. Request for a seat in the quietest space possible.
2. Humbly request for a reduced volume if the music seems likely to trigger your tinnitus condition. It’s likely to be bothering others too.
3. Feel free to change location, seat, or places that can help keep your tinnitus mute. If the tinnitus is making it difficult for you to hear, sit beside people with “good” listening ears.
4. Check-in when the restaurant is less crowded or quieter. A quick tip? Service is even better during such hours.

Handling a party

As a tinnitus patient, attending parties could be quite challenging considering the presence of loud music and talks from different people. You have to deal with a confusing wall of sounds. In this regard, you should consider the points shared earlier. Also, you may sit outside or in a less noisy room if possible. Furthermore, focus on a person or go with a partner – rather than four or five people. Sitting closely with the speaker also creates a friendly and intimate feeling. Finally, attend every party knowing that you cannot hear everything. So, don’t be too hard on yourself. 

Tinnitus and Christmas: a Conclusion

You don’t need to shut off your social life for tinnitus. Don’t allow the exasperating condition to win. Instead, be more meticulous about where you attend and when you do. Proper planning and coping strategies will help get through the festive period in the most exciting way possible. Enjoy the Christmas. 

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Diet & Tinnitus: Foods That May Aggravate Tinnitus

While discourse on a diet contributing to tinnitus is relatively less talked about, several reports and patient complaints have established a link between ringing in ears and food. In fact, many people have stayed away from the cake, candy, morning coffee, and even potato chips to keep the chances of developing pulsatile tinnitus minimal. Hence, paying attention to your experiences after a particular meal could be the breakthrough from your persistent tinnitus. In this article, you’ll find out some common foods that have been associated with tinnitus and current medical opinion. Enjoy reading!

Diet & Tinnitus: Is there any association?

Loud ringing in the ears, otherwise known as tinnitus, is an exasperating medical condition. However, several factors are known to trigger the sounds or buzzes. It’s yet to be definitely established that foods cause tinnitus. Nevertheless, it is known that a few can make the sounds louder and even unbearable for the affected individual. Among the notable foods include:

1- Salt

For an obvious reason, sodium is known to aggravate ringing in ears. This is because excess salt initiates higher blood pressure. When the blood vessel constricts, it makes blood circulation more difficult. In this case, affected persons are likely to hear the heartbeat louder than normal in the ear. Many patients who reduced their sodium intake, especially salty snacks, and processed foods, reported a reduction in the tinnitus sounds.

2- Coffee

Several tinnitus patients stopped taking coffee based on the doctor’s recommendation. This is because increased exposure to caffeine trigger stress. Meanwhile, stress is well recognized to aggravate tinnitus. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that recent studies show that a reduction of caffeine intake may not cure the condition. An abrupt withdrawal from caffeine may even worsen the condition.

3- Sugars

Diabetic patients are likely to experience a higher tinnitus state when they consume sugary foods. By consuming the likes of chocolate or candy while experiencing diabetes symptoms, it can affect your glucose level. When the glucose level in the blood supply is extremely high, it impairs hearing and can contribute to tinnitus.

4- Saturated fats

Atherosclerosis can emerge due to excess intake of butter, cheese, red meat, among other saturated fats. This is because they increase cholesterol levels. When atherosclerosis develops, it contributes to the factor that triggers tinnitus. At the same time, it raises the affected patient’s risk of heart diseases and strokes.

5- Alcohol

Tinnitus patients have claimed how it’s impossible to drink alcohol due to its effect on their ringing in the ear condition. This is understandable as alcoholic beverages contain sugar, which causes dehydration and raises blood pressure. All these factors make tinnitus more pronounced. 

Diet & Tinnitus: Perspective of science

There are various medical opinions concerning the influence of foods on tinnitus. Currently, there are few studies on the subject. Hence, individual patients are encouraged to be conscious of their diet or dietary change to help improve tinnitus symptoms.

Conclusion

An important piece of information to remember is that our bodies react to chemicals in different ways. Hence, while sugars may contribute to the aggravation of a relative’s tinnitus condition, it might not be the same in your case. Thus, you are encouraged to take note of any food or drink that aggravates your own condition. Endeavor to visit a medical doctor to determine if there is an association between the diet and tinnitus. If you notice that ringing in your ears escalates after eating, consider removing the meal from your plan or reducing the intake significantly. 

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Depression and Tinnitus Discussion Plus Possible Options

If you have been feeling helpless or depressed due to the persistent ringing in your ears, you are not alone. In fact, many previous patients reported a similar experience. It takes a lot of courage to live with depression and tinnitus, regardless of how you have had to deal with it. The situation could get even worse if the doctor says there is nothing they can do for you.  

However, this is not exactly true. In reality, they are simply saying they do not possess the pill or surgery expertise to help cure your tinnitus immediately. It is understandable if you panic at such a moment. But take a moment to breathe because several medical personnel were never fully informed about the connection between the emotional brain and auditory brain. While there is no known pill or surgery for an immediate cure at the moment, there are several ways to help ease your tinnitus. Find out in this article.

What can you do about Tinnitus?

Whether you have been told there is a solution or not, you are about to find out possible efforts to make life more comfortable for yourself. First off, be informed that depression may spring up from tinnitus. Also, the condition may worsen the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Learning to accept that tinnitus may never really go away could be difficult. 

However, there is a considerable gap between “my tinnitus will leave” and “my tinnitus is giving me depression, and I can’t live with it.” It’s important to navigate the gap smartly as it will play a crucial role in your life quality in relation to tinnitus. In most cases, tinnitus patients recount that they are sad and depressed. Some even complain that they cannot live with the symptoms anymore as it gets worse. 

Be Honest

In the course of recounting their experience, they often evolve to the stage of acceptance and finally becoming honest with themselves. Eventually, they ask what can be done at that moment or in the next few days or weeks to impact their lives positively. Once you reach this stage, it’s a big turning around as it will influence your tinnitus-induced stress and possible depression. 

At this junction, you are essentially taking charge of what is possible and what’s not. From here, you’ll start finding the strength and knowledge to navigate your life with tinnitus. Overall, it will start improving your life quality as you become more committed to your path. Everyone has a process of negative thinking, which is quite powerful. By understanding how your mind patterns this negative thought, it’s a huge step towards regaining your control over tinnitus. 

Tinnitus and the Brain: What you should know

Our hearing system receives signals that create tinnitus. This happens in the auditory brain, which is connected to parts of our emotional brain, otherwise known as the limbic system. When the ringing in ears sends a signal to the limbic system, the emotional brain reacts with a heightened response as it doesn’t know what the information is about. This stems from the fear of something beyond ourselves that comes into our environment. 

In truth, the ringing sound is not really dangerous. It is simply a response from the physical body that is created to get your attention. The powerful aspect is when the emotional brain sends a signal back to your auditory system. Essentially, the limbic system is asking the auditory brain to amplify the sound, believing they need to pay extra attention to it. Now, the signal is sent back to the emotional brain in an amplified form; then, the limbic system becomes more stressed as it cannot make any meaning out of it. 

This experience is called a feedback loop, in which one signal influences the other. Consequently, the signal gets louder and makes the host become more anxious and uncomfortable. It’s advisable to consider how the feedback loop influences your tinnitus or other aspects of your life, which is connected to stress, depression, or anxiety. Advisably, consider seeing a talk therapist, tinnitus specialist, or wellness coach to secure direct guidance on how the emotional brain relates with your auditory system. These experts can also tell you possible solutions.

The relationship between depression and tinnitus

From sadness to depression, you may experience many difficult moments with tinnitus. In these situations, you wish that the pulsatile tinnitus could just leave you alone. On the contrary, the tinnitus will continue choosing to stay. Take a moment to breathe and think of what you can control in the situation. Is it possible to improve the situation with direct action?

Consider asking yourself, “what positive action step can I take?” “What would be the best result from this change?” and on the contrary, “what would be the worst result?” Most times than not, making a change to improve a situation does pave the way for positive progress, including when it doesn’t happen immediately. In the worst-case scenario, the change doesn’t make any changes to your current situation.

Across the journey, you’ll learn several life lessons and a lot about yourself. Without any doubt, a combination of motivation to learn about tinnitus and the right guidance will help you understand the balance between your auditory system and emotional brain. Now, if you take a direct action daily that aligns with your value, there is a high chance that your tinnitus will improve considerably. 

Final note

It’s highly recommended that you consider speaking with a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist if you have been experiencing sadness or depression in the previous months. This could be clinical depression. However, with a therapy session, you can significantly improve the situation. Don’t forget to take one step at a time as you walk through the tinnitus journey.

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An Imperfect Bite & Tinnitus: What You Should Know

In recent times, it has been found that somatosensory tinnitus is real. This occurs as a result of an imperfect bite. Generally, it is widely agreed that tinnitus can emerge due to damages to the hair cells within the ear. However, auditory experts are now aware that imperfect bite can also be responsible for ringing in ears. This form of tinnitus arises when the muscles around the neck and jaw are tensioned, thus bite & tinnitus might be related in some cases.

Furthermore, somatosensory tinnitus can develop when there is a sense of tiredness around the mandibular joints. In this case, the affected individuals may experience pronounced tinnitus during the day or night, depending on the increase in their stress levels. Read on to learn about remedies for somatosensory tinnitus and how to self-check an imperfect bite. Enjoy reading!

Remedies for Imperfect Bite-induced Tinnitus

Some Scandinavian dentists have brought rays of hope for treating tinnitus caused by an imperfect bite. The idea is that tinnitus symptoms can be managed by some simple physiological solutions. 

Also, according to a Danish study, it’s possible to restore the balance in a bite by realigning the jaw with the mouth guard. This helps lower muscle tension. In this case, the jaw has to be relaxed to reduce the tension, leading to reduced tinnitus symptoms. Based on a report from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, 72% of 140 patients experienced a reduced tinnitus situation, even two years after their treatment.

A similar outcome was reported in the Netherlands. In this case, dentists and physio-therapists collaborated to treat tinnitus patients having imperfect bites. Close to 52% of the patients experienced improvements, while a few disclosed that they were completely free of the symptoms.

How to check your bite

Understandably, a dentist or orthodontist can quickly check an imbalance bite for you. However, nothing stops you from taking a self-check, too, albeit taking more time. Follow the guide below to self-check your bite:

1- The front view

Checking the front view is pretty easy. Simply position yourself in front of a mirror. A correct bite features an alignment between the bottoms of the upper front teeth and upper lip. Also, not more than one-half of the length of your bottom row will be exposed when the teeth are closed. In some cases, the bite could be affected by the upper incisors, leading to a deep bite when they cover the lower teeth significantly. You can also have an open bite due to excessively overlapping lower teeth.

2- The side view

It’s quite tricky to check your bite from the sides. However, you can do this by using two mirrors. When checking from either side, the back part of your upper teeth should relax on the front sides of the lower teeth gently. Don’t allow the lower incisors and the edges of the upper teeth to touch. An under-bite could exist when the bottom of the upper teeth lies behind the edges of the lower incisors. Also, an overbite is possible when the upper teeth project extremely away and out in front of your lower teeth without any touch.

3- The Top or Bottom View

Asymmetrically aligned teeth can be seen from the top and bottom rows of teeth. In this case, you shouldn’t see any overlapping teeth. Each of the teeth in both rows has to be in contact with one another without any space in between. 

Bite & Tinnitus: A Final note

After a successful check by yourself, endeavor to reach out to your dentist and book an appointment. An imbalance bite could be contributing significantly to the severity of your tinnitus symptoms. Get them aligned.

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