1. What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a sound sensation that has no specific sound source. Tinnitus is not directly related to hearing and can even occur in deaf people. Mild, intermittent, and unproblematic tinnitus following exposure to a noisy environment is quite common. People who suffer from annoying tinnitus need help, but unfortunately, not enough attention is paid to this issue. In a sense, tinnitus can be considered a hearing problem because it affects the perception of hearing. A person may hear a constant sound (hissing, humming, ringing) that interferes with the ability to distinguish external sounds.
2. What causes tinnitus?
The mechanism behind tinnitus is not yet fully understood. There are two theories: the nerve theory and the auditory cell damage theory. The auditory nerve has 30,000 nerve fibers, which are divided between 3,500 inner auditory cells. These inner hair cells perceive sound. This means that there are numerous nerve endings per hair cell. According to the nerve theory, when an inner hair cell is destroyed, the nerve endings begin to produce impulses that the brain's auditory center perceives as ringing. On the other hand, damage to the inner hair cells can cause the hair cells to activate, resulting in the hair cell periodically or continuously sending electrical impulses to the auditory nerve. These, in turn, are decoded by the brain as sound.
The aforementioned injuries may be caused by age-related changes, prolonged exposure to loud noise, a single loud noise (explosion, gunshot), or certain diseases. Tinnitus can also be caused by a blow to the head or injury to the head and neck area. In addition, stress, blood pressure, and many other factors can cause tinnitus by triggering additional bioelectrical activity in the auditory system via the brain and central nervous system. It is often caused by a combination of factors, leaving the cause of tinnitus unclear.
Tinnitus can occur for many reasons and is often caused by a combination of factors that work together to cause tinnitus over a long period of time. In cases related to the ear, tinnitus can be caused by problems in the outer, middle, or inner ear. The most common causes in the outer ear are earwax blockage, inflammation, and ear canal dysfunction. In the middle ear, the causes include reduced mobility of the ossicles (otosclerosis) and middle ear inflammation. It is often impossible to clearly identify the cause of tinnitus in the inner ear. On the other hand, tinnitus can also occur in any part of the auditory system and is not necessarily caused by a defect in the inner ear. One cause of tinnitus is ototoxic drugs. For most people, the effects of these drugs are not permanent and disappear when the drug is discontinued, provided that it has not caused permanent damage to the inner ear.
3. At what age can tinnitus occur?
It can occur at any age, but most commonly begins between the ages of 40 and 60, although this is not a rule. In most cases, it initially affects only one ear.
4. How does tinnitus manifest itself?
Tinnitus can be heard as a variety of sounds. It is usually a buzzing or humming sound, but it can also be a high-pitched whistling or other sound. If there is a lot of noise around you, you may not notice the tinnitus.
5. Is tinnitus a disease?
Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of another disease. This means that tinnitus (ringing in the ears) often indicates an underlying cause or health problem, but it is not a disease in itself.
6. What kinds of diseases cause tinnitus?
Meniere's disease,
inflammation of the auditory nerve,
acoustic neuroma (tumor),
sudden hearing loss,
thyroid problems,
high blood pressure (hypertension),
Lyme disease (tick-borne borreliosis),
atherosclerosis,
anemia,
diabetes,
autoimmune diseases,
stroke
These are just a few of the main diseases that cause tinnitus. In total, there are about 200 medical conditions that can result in tinnitus. In addition to these, tinnitus can also occur in the following cases:
stress, anxiety disorder, depression, tense shoulder and neck muscles, bite problems, ossification of the auditory bones (otosclerosis).
Inflammation can also damage the middle or inner ear and thus cause tinnitus.
7. How should you deal with tinnitus?
Tinnitus does not physically interfere with normal life. It does not hinder movement like paralysis, limb loss, or brain damage, which limit the functioning of the body and mind. Nevertheless, in the worst cases, tinnitus can be a seriously debilitating condition. People are very different. Some people simply accept tinnitus and quickly get used to it. In such cases, tinnitus may always be present, but the person does not notice it because they are focused on other things. Others are unable to accept tinnitus under any circumstances and cannot get used to it, and they wait for some kind of treatment or medication to eliminate it.
8. Does tinnitus start suddenly?
Tinnitus can develop gradually over time or occur suddenly. It is not clear exactly why this happens. Tinnitus is often associated with age-related hearing loss, in which the background noise heard by a person decreases and tinnitus becomes more distinct. Another major cause is damage to the hair cells in the ear, which can occur either as a result of prolonged exposure to a noisy environment or a single loud noise.
9. Tinnitus and sleep disorders?
People who suffer from tinnitus often also suffer from sleep disorders, especially difficulty falling asleep. Tinnitus increased the risk of insomnia by approximately three times in a study involving more than 14,000 people aged 45–79. Even mild tinnitus can make it difficult to fall asleep or get a good night's rest.
10. Are there different types of tinnitus?
There are four types of tinnitus: subjective, neurological, somatic, and objective tinnitus. Many people have mild symptoms that pass quickly, but for others, the symptoms may worsen or last longer.
More specifically, tinnitus can be divided into two types: subjective tinnitus, where there is no sound source, and objective tinnitus, which is caused by the body itself, such as blood circulation or tense muscles. Objective tinnitus can be heard by a specialist conducting the examination using appropriate equipment. Subjective tinnitus is further divided into neurological and somatic tinnitus.
11. What is neurological tinnitus?
Neurological causes include head injury, multiple sclerosis, and acoustic neuroma, or a tumor on the auditory nerve.
12. What is somatic tinnitus?
Somatic tinnitus is a condition in which the body's own activity can cause, exacerbate, or influence tinnitus in some way. Somatic signals originate from the sensory organs and are caused by muscle tension in the face, neck, head, shoulders, tongue, and jaw.
13. Can tinnitus cause hearing loss?
No. Tinnitus does not directly cause hearing loss, but loud tinnitus in the ear can make it somewhat more difficult to understand what the other person is saying. In most cases, however, tinnitus does not interfere with conversation. Tinnitus is often accompanied by hearing loss – studies show that most people with persistent tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. At the same time, there are also people who experience tinnitus but whose hearing tests show normal hearing. Therefore, tinnitus itself is not hearing loss in the classic sense, nor does it cause hearing loss, but it can be considered a hearing-related problem because it affects sound perception and hearing comfort.
14. Will my tinnitus ever go away?
Most new cases of tinnitus resolve within a few weeks after their initial onset. If this does not happen within three months, it is considered chronic tinnitus, which cannot be eliminated with modern methods. Some sources suggest a period of one year. In very rare cases, tinnitus has disappeared after a longer period, but this is rather an exception.
15. Which frequency of tinnitus is more disturbing?
This is very individual and depends on the person's hearing, habits, and environment. Studies and patient experiences show that high-frequency tinnitus (beeping, whistling, ringing) is usually more disturbing because it easily penetrates surrounding sounds and is more difficult to mask (e.g., with music or nature sounds).
Low-frequency tinnitus (rumbling, humming, motor or distant traffic-like sounds) can have a different effect. Some people find it more tolerable because it resembles natural or urban sounds, while others find the low, constant "engine noise" unbearably annoying, especially in quiet environments, as it resembles external noise that "cannot be turned off."
Statistically, however, most tinnitus sufferers complain that high-frequency sounds are the most disturbing.
16. Can tinnitus suddenly stop?
Tinnitus caused by ear infection, earwax buildup, or high blood pressure may go away, but only if you seek treatment to address the underlying cause. This may involve taking antibiotics to clear up an infection, lowering your blood pressure, or cleaning your ears to remove earwax.
17. Why are many people unable to get used to tinnitus?
This is a very important question, because many doctors tell patients that "you just have to get used to it," but in reality, this is not easy for many people. There are several reasons why getting used to it fails:
The brain's interpretation
When the brain perceives tinnitus as something threatening or unfamiliar, it triggers a constant alert response (similar to a danger signal). This keeps the nervous system on edge and prevents it from getting used to the sound.
Emotional connection
If tinnitus is associated with stress, fear, insomnia, or trauma, it becomes a negative experience. Every time the sound is heard, the same emotions are activated.
Sound characteristics
High-pitched, sharp, or fluctuating tinnitus is more difficult for the brain to ignore. Lower-pitched and more stable sounds may be easier for some people to tolerate.
Environmental conditions
In complete silence, tinnitus becomes dominant. If a person lives or works in a quiet environment, it is more difficult to get used to it.
Accompanying problems
Hearing loss, stress, anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders reinforce the effects of tinnitus and make it more difficult to get used to.
Expectations and attitude
If a person believes that tinnitus is a sign of something very serious or that "it is ruining my life," psychological resistance arises. In this case, the sound becomes a mental burden rather than a neutral sensation.
Habituation usually occurs when the brain is able to reevaluate the tinnitus: "it is not dangerous" → "it is just background noise." If this reevaluation does not occur, the tinnitus remains disturbing.
18. Does tinnitus occur in the ear or in the brain?
This is a question that doctors are asked very often – and the answer is a little bit of both:
The problem often starts in the ear when the hearing cells in the inner ear (cochlea) are damaged (e.g., by noise, Meniere's disease, aging) and the hearing cells no longer transmit signals normally to the brain via the auditory nerve. This results in a kind of "gap" in the hearing information.
But the sound itself is generated in the brain, because when there is not enough input from the ear, the brain begins to amplify nerve signals to compensate for the "missing information." This amplification creates spontaneous nerve signals that the brain interprets as ringing or noise. Therefore, the audible "tinnitus sound" is not a physical sound in the ear, but a sensory experience created by the brain itself.
There is also so-called objective tinnitus (very rare), where the sound actually comes from the movement of the ear or blood vessels, and sometimes it can even be heard by another person with a stethoscope. However, the vast majority of people have subjective tinnitus, which is created in the brain.
Therefore, the cause is often in the ear (damage to the hearing cells or auditory nerve), but the sound experience is created in the brain because the brain interprets abnormal or incomplete signals as ringing.
19. What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be caused by a number of factors, including damaged hearing cells in the part of the ear that receives sound (cochlea); changes in how blood flows through the blood vessels near the auditory nerve (unearter); problems with the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint); and problems with how the brain processes incoming sound signals. In many cases, the cause remains unknown. This makes it difficult to develop effective treatments.
20. What can cause tinnitus in only one ear?
Tinnitus in one ear can be caused by an excessive build-up of earwax. Too much wax can increase pressure on the eardrum, causing tinnitus. A doctor can easily remove the excess earwax and alleviate the condition.
21. How can I clean wax from my ears?
In general, this is not necessary, as the wax dries out in the air and falls out of the ear. However, if this does not happen, you should have it done by an ear doctor or family nurse. You should never try to remove wax yourself at home. Medical literature has included instructions on how to clean your ears yourself with water and a large syringe, but this is not recommended. It has even been jokingly said that you should not put anything thinner than your elbow into your ear.
22. Why should earwax not be removed with a cotton swab?
Using a cotton swab removes some of the wax, but most of it is pushed back into the ear canal, where it forms a so-called wax plug that cannot be removed without outside help.
23. How common is tinnitus?
There is no exact answer to this question, as no statistics on the prevalence of tinnitus have been compiled worldwide. Only a few countries (Germany, Sweden, and the USA) have such statistics. Unfortunately, Estonia is one of the countries where no statistics have been compiled.
Tinnitus occurs in some form in approximately 15-20% of the population. Persistent tinnitus occurs in approximately 5% of people, and of these, 1% suffer from disabling tinnitus that affects their daily lives. These figures vary somewhat between different sources. According to available statistics, tinnitus is on the rise.
24. How loud is tinnitus?
It is usually impossible to measure tinnitus objectively, as it is an internal sound that only the person themselves can hear.
When audiometric tests are used to assess loudness, the intensity of tinnitus is compared to an external tone – for many people, the loudness of tinnitus ranges from 5 to 15 dB SL (sensation level – above the hearing threshold). This is a relatively low sound level compared to environmental noise, but the brain amplifies the audibility of tinnitus.
This means that tinnitus is usually quieter than normal conversation (which is ~60 dB), but because it is constant and uncontrollable, it can seem much more disturbing.
25. What causes tinnitus to become louder?
These include health conditions such as recurrent ear infections, high blood pressure, and diabetes, to name a few. Medications you take, including aspirin, chemotherapy, and some antibiotics. Exposure to loud noises, such as music, lawnmowers, fireworks, gunshots, and loud noise. In some diseases, such as Meniere's disease, tinnitus is very loud and often varies in both volume and character.
26. Why does tinnitus seem louder on some days?
When stress levels rise, tinnitus can seem louder. If you haven't slept well one night, you may experience more stress and your tinnitus may seem louder than on a normal day. Getting enough sleep also helps our ability to cope with stress. Physical exertion also increases the loudness of tinnitus.
27. Why is my tinnitus worse when I try to fall asleep?
When we go to sleep, the environment is usually quiet, and the absence of noise causes confusion in the brain in response to this. To compensate for this sudden silence, the brain creates sound even if it is not real. In other words, tinnitus worsens at night because it is too quiet. In the evening or at night, surrounding sounds and noises are significantly reduced, making tinnitus seem more intense than during the day.
28. Which medications make tinnitus worse?
The list includes ototoxic (hearing-damaging) medications such as antibiotics, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cancer drugs, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin or aspirin-containing medications (ibuprofen). The higher the dose, the greater the chance of problems. Symptoms often disappear when you stop taking a particular medication.
29. When should I be concerned about tinnitus?
If tinnitus occurs suddenly, is unilateral, very loud, or accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or pain, you should definitely consult a doctor (preferably an ear, nose, and throat specialist, or otolaryngologist). Sometimes there is a treatable cause.
30. How is tinnitus diagnosed?
Your family doctor will refer you to an ear specialist, who will perform an audiometric hearing test, check the condition of your ear canal, blood pressure, and other health indicators. If necessary, you will undergo a CT scan to rule out the presence of tumors. The severity of tinnitus is determined based on a questionnaire presented to the patient and completed by them.
31. When should you see a doctor?
If you have been exposed to loud noise and your tinnitus goes away quickly, it usually does not need to be diagnosed. However, if the cause is unclear and your tinnitus does not seem to be going away, or if you have other symptoms that may indicate an infection or damage to your eardrum, you should see an ear specialist.
32. When is tinnitus permanent?
If you experience tinnitus for short periods, perhaps only a few minutes, it is very likely that it will disappear over time. However, if it has lasted for months or even years, it is likely that the condition is permanent.
33. Can tinnitus negatively affect my ability to work?
People with tinnitus often suffer from increased sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis), which means that a typical noisy work environment can cause ear pain or sudden increases in tinnitus. Patients may be forced to change jobs or give up their careers due to tinnitus or hyperacusis.
34. Do medications available on the internet help with tinnitus?
None of the medications or therapies available have been found to have therapeutic properties in clinical trials to date.
35. Can alternative treatments help with tinnitus?
Many alternative treatments have been suggested: ginkgo biloba, acupuncture, hypnosis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, homeopathy, massage. None of these have been shown to have a long-term effect on tinnitus. They may help some people, but the evidence is still uncertain.
36. Is ginkgo biloba beneficial for tinnitus?
Ginkgo biloba is used clinically to treat inner ear disorders such as hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus. However, clinical studies have not proven its effectiveness.
37. Has anyone been cured of tinnitus?
Yes, many people have experienced a resolution of their tinnitus, but only in cases of temporary tinnitus. Chronic tinnitus persists. Currently, tinnitus cannot be cured, but it can be effectively managed with hearing aids, behavioral therapy, and/or sound therapy, depending on the individual.
38. Why is tinnitus incurable?
The main reason is that tinnitus is a symptom rather than a disease. There is no single cause of tinnitus, so there can be no single cure. Another reason is that tinnitus is very individual and manifests itself differently in each person. Therefore, each person suffering from tinnitus would need a treatment plan tailored specifically to them. In contrast, in the case of objective tinnitus, the tinnitus may stop once the underlying cause has been eliminated.
39. What should be avoided in case of tinnitus?
Tinnitus imposes limitations on a person. The most important of these is environmental noise. You should definitely avoid noisy environments, stressful situations, and excessive physical exertion, and make sure you get enough rest. In some cases, you may need to change your diet.
40. What foods and drinks should be avoided if you have tinnitus?
First and foremost, it is advisable to avoid excessive salt intake, as salt retains fluid in the body. The artificial sweetener aspartame found in soft drinks is harmful to health. Therefore, you should avoid consuming soft drinks. You should also reduce your intake of foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar. Alcohol consumption should definitely be limited. Tobacco in any form (including e-cigarettes) is prohibited. Until recently, caffeine was also classified as a prohibited substance, but recent studies have shown that moderate consumption of coffee, black tea, and dark chocolate does not affect tinnitus.
41. What viral infections and diseases cause tinnitus?
Viral infections suffered during childhood can cause tinnitus. In addition to the common cold, several other bacterial and viral infections that occur during childhood can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders. These include meningitis, congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), chickenpox, measles, and mumps.
42. Can I live a normal life with tinnitus?
There is no clear cure or cause for tinnitus. It affects millions of people worldwide to some degree, and coping with it can be difficult. Fortunately, it is entirely possible to live a normal life even with severe tinnitus, but it requires some effort on your part.
43. Can tinnitus cause deafness?
Having tinnitus does not mean you have hearing loss, and even if you have hearing loss, it does not mean you will become deaf. Hearing aids can improve hearing loss and often manage tinnitus symptoms at the same time. However, a gradual decline in hearing can be a normal phenomenon that is not related to tinnitus.
44. What does chronic tinnitus sound like?
While some patients say that their tinnitus sounds like ringing, hissing, roaring, or crackling, others describe their tinnitus as a high-pitched sound, siren, buzzing, pulsing, ocean waves, humming, crackling, human voices, or even music (musical hallucination). In some cases, the frequency of tinnitus depends on its cause. For example, people with Meniere's disease generally suffer from low-pitched tinnitus.
45. Can tinnitus be treated with medication?
Medication cannot cure tinnitus, but in some cases it can help reduce the severity of symptoms or complications. To relieve symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat the underlying condition or to help treat anxiety and depression, which often accompany tinnitus. However, it is advisable to avoid using antidepressants.
46. What happens if we do nothing about tinnitus?
Like many other hearing impairments, tinnitus can affect your quality of life. Many people with tinnitus report difficulty falling asleep, concentrating, or enjoying quiet moments. In such cases, tinnitus can further reduce your quality of life, causing irritability, insomnia, and even depression. However, many people learn to live with tinnitus without it causing them any problems.
47. Can stress cause tinnitus?
There are many references to stress being one of the main factors that amplify tinnitus. Stress is a familiar phenomenon to many who experience tinnitus, as stress can in turn be caused by tinnitus. This is a vicious circle: STRESS > TINNITUS > STRESS. Emotional stress is often associated with otological symptoms such as tinnitus and vertigo. Stress can contribute to the onset or worsening of tinnitus.
48. Can smoking cause tinnitus?
Smoking does not directly cause tinnitus, but it can contribute to or worsen it, although it may not be the direct cause in every case. Here's how smoking can be related to tinnitus:
Circulatory problems
Nicotine constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to the inner ear and brain. This can damage the auditory nerve and the blood supply to the hearing organ, which is important for normal hearing.
Increased risk of hearing loss
Studies show that smokers are at greater risk of hearing loss – and hearing loss is one of the main causes of tinnitus.
Irritation of the nervous system
Nicotine and other chemicals stimulate or irritate the nervous system, which can amplify tinnitus.
Oxidative stress and inflammation
Smoking causes oxidative stress and inflammation in cells, which can also affect the structures of the inner ear.
49. Can water in the ear cause tinnitus?
Water in the ear can cause a feeling of fullness and muffle sounds. You may experience ear pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, balance and coordination problems, a runny nose, or a sore throat. Fluid in the ear canal can also cause inflammation.
50. Is tinnitus only heard in the ear?
No. Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in an undefined location in the head. In fact, it is not a sound heard in the ear, but rather a noise generated in the auditory cortex or auditory nerve of the brain.
51. Can a bacterial infection cause ringing in the ears?
One of the most common causes of blocked or ringing ears is ear infection. External ear infections, commonly referred to as swimmer's ear, are caused by a bacterial or viral infection in the ear canal, which causes fluid to build up and pressure to increase in the ear.
52. Can viral meningitis cause tinnitus?
The consequences of meningitis include the destruction of hearing cells in the inner ear, causing mild to moderate hearing loss. Further physical damage to the structures of the inner ear can cause profound hearing loss. Tinnitus can also be a result of meningitis.
53. Does lack of sleep cause tinnitus?
Tinnitus is not only associated with hearing loss, but also, unsurprisingly, with sleep disorders. The relationship may even be cyclical – up to 71 percent of tinnitus patients report sleep problems, and sleep deprivation may also be a cause of chronic tinnitus.
54. Is tinnitus caused by inflammation?
The pathophysiology of tinnitus is closely linked to acquired hearing loss, and there is growing evidence that inflammation may contribute to the pathophysiology of hearing loss. Based on this, inflammation may also be one of the key factors in the development of tinnitus.
55. Can brain tumors cause tinnitus?
Certain types of brain tumors may cause tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, and dizziness, but these are usually indirect symptoms.
56. Is tinnitus stable?
No. Tinnitus varies greatly, sometimes being barely audible, but then becoming really loud just five minutes later. The same happens with the tone, which varies from low to high and vice versa. The sound of tinnitus sometimes also depends on its cause. For example, tinnitus caused by Meniere's disease is usually low-pitched.
57. Do animals also suffer from tinnitus?
Yes, animals suffer from tinnitus, but we can only detect it using indirect methods.
It has been found that animals experience similar nerve changes in the brain as humans – hyperactivity occurs in the cerebral cortex and auditory pathways, so there is reason to believe that dogs and cats may also experience tinnitus, especially if they have been exposed to noise or suffered ear trauma.
Since an animal cannot say that it has "ringing in the ears," this can only be inferred indirectly: restlessness, anxiety, head shaking, or searching for sound sources that are not actually there.
58. Is tinnitus a symptom of a stroke?
Tinnitus can occur when blood flow to the patient's ears is restricted or interrupted. Blood clots not only cause ringing in the ears, but also heart attacks and strokes – so it is essential that patients with tinnitus undergo tests as soon as possible.
59. Is ringing in the ears a symptom of high blood pressure?
Persistently high blood pressure, or hypertension, can cause tinnitus, in which a person hears a pulsating sound in their ears in time with their heartbeat. Several published studies have shown that 44.4% of people with tinnitus also had hypertension.
60. Can neck problems cause tinnitus?
The answer is yes. Tense neck muscles can cause objective tinnitus, which is also audible to the examining physician. This type of tinnitus is treatable.
61. Does vitamin B12 cure tinnitus?
Studies have shown that people with tinnitus who had a B12 deficiency experienced relief from their symptoms after receiving B12 supplementation. Those who did not have a deficiency experienced no change in their tinnitus. The result may be explained by an overall improvement in health. Vitamin B12 is found in foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products; it can also be produced in a laboratory. It is often taken in combination with other B vitamins.
62. Does low vitamin D cause tinnitus?
The results of many studies show that a large proportion of tinnitus patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency. As with vitamin B, vitamin D is more likely to improve overall health than alleviate tinnitus.
63. Which minerals are beneficial for tinnitus?
Studies have shown that magnesium improves common hearing disorders such as age-related hearing loss, ear infections, and tinnitus. Many people with noise-induced hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus. Magnesium has been shown to somewhat alleviate the severity of tinnitus symptoms. Adequate magnesium levels in the body also keep blood vessels relaxed, allowing sufficient blood to flow throughout the body, including through the capillaries in the inner ear.
64. Do most people get used to tinnitus?
Yes! It is entirely possible to get used to tinnitus. Millions of people have successfully adapted to it, and tinnitus no longer affects their quality of life. Although the sound may not disappear completely, the unpleasant feelings it causes can be significantly reduced.
65. How does melatonin help with tinnitus?
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland of the brain. Natural melatonin helps regulate sleep cycles and wakefulness. Melatonin supplements can reduce tinnitus by improving sleep, as recent studies have shown.
66. Can neck massage relieve tinnitus?
Relieving tension in certain muscles in the jaw and neck through massage may help alleviate tinnitus symptoms. Medical massage targeting certain muscles in the neck, head, upper back, and jaw can release tension and reduce the intensity of tinnitus symptoms.
67. Is it okay to use headphones when you have tinnitus?
Yes, headphones can be used to listen to music when you have tinnitus, but it is very important to do so consciously and cautiously. If used incorrectly, headphones can actually worsen tinnitus or cause hearing loss, which in turn exacerbates the symptoms. Some recommendations:
Don't listen too loudly! The recommended limit is below 60% of the maximum volume. If other people can hear the sound from your headphones, it is already too loud. Limit your listening time – for example, 60 minutes at a time, then take a break. Wearing headphones for long periods of time or continuously can tire your ears.
68. Can I fly with tinnitus?
In most cases, flying does not cause hearing damage or tinnitus symptoms, but there are a number of tips to follow to ensure a comfortable flight. Many people worry that engine noise may damage their ears and cause tinnitus symptoms to worsen. In this case, hearing protection should be used.
69. Does sleeping position affect tinnitus?
There is no single sleeping position that is right for everyone with tinnitus, but there are some recommendations and observations that can help alleviate symptoms at night and improve sleep:
Sleeping on your back
This can help prevent excessive pressure on either ear.
Using a small pillow to support your neck can help prevent muscle tension, which can otherwise exacerbate tinnitus.
This is a good option if the tinnitus is louder in one ear, as it prevents your head from pressing against the pillow.
Sleeping on your side:
If you only have tinnitus in one ear, sleeping on the other side may help, so that the affected ear is facing upwards.
Some people find that this makes the tinnitus sound less noticeable.
Make sure your neck and head are in a good position – the wrong pillow can cause muscle tension.
70. Does showering help with tinnitus?
Water treatments can help strengthen the body's central nervous system. Alternating between hot and cold water in the shower is very effective for this. In a simpler form, it is enough to alternate between hot and cold water on your feet. This method does not reduce tinnitus, but it strengthens the nervous system, which helps to cope with tinnitus.
71. What is the Lenire device?
Lenire is a medical device that provides bimodal neuromodulation, which means that it simultaneously stimulates the auditory nerve (through the ears) and the lingual nerve (through the tongue). The goal of the therapy is to reduce the perception of tinnitus by helping the brain "learn" that the tinnitus sound is not dangerous or important.
Sound stimulation
Specially customized sounds (clicks, tones, etc.) are played through headphones and tailored to your hearing profile.
Tongue nerve stimulation
At the same time, mild electrical impulses are sent to the tongue (via small electrodes attached to the tip of the tongue) – these stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is connected to the auditory pathways.
This combined stimulation helps the brain to change the activity of the neural networks that perceive tinnitus and can thus reduce symptoms or make them less disturbing. The long-term results of the therapy have not yet been determined. In addition, the high cost of the device ($2,000–5,000) inhibits its use.
72. Does cholesterol cause tinnitus?
The hair cells in the inner ear also play a role in tinnitus. High cholesterol levels can exacerbate tinnitus because it thickens the blood and slows down its ability to transport nutrients to the hair cells. If the inner ears do not receive enough blood and oxygen, the hair cells can become permanently damaged. Any condition that affects blood flow can potentially cause tinnitus symptoms, as the ears are more likely to detect the sounds of blood flow around the brain. High blood pressure, stress, anemia, high cholesterol, and excessive alcohol consumption can all cause tinnitus. A blood test is the only way to find out if your cholesterol is too high. This means that your total blood cholesterol level is above 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
Reduce saturated fats in your diet. Saturated fats, found mainly in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol level. Avoid trans fats. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Increase the amount of soluble fiber in your diet. Eat foods that contain protein.
73. What kind of blood tests are done for tinnitus?
Depending on the suspected cause of your tinnitus, you may need imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, along with lab tests. Your doctor may take blood samples to check for anemia, thyroid problems, heart disease, or vitamin deficiencies.
74. Does tinnitus affect the brain?
Tinnitus, which often results from damage to the peripheral auditory system, is associated with changes in the structure and function of many areas of the brain. These include multiple levels of the auditory system, as well as areas of the limbic system involved in memory and emotion.
75. Can hearing human voices in your head be a sign of schizophrenia?
With tinnitus, people often hear sounds that resemble human voices, including the murmur of a crowd or singing. If tinnitus manifests itself simply as human voices whose words cannot be understood, then it is not a sign of schizophrenia.
If a person hears specific words or conversations that no one else can hear, and this causes fear or confusion, it is important to consult a doctor. This does not automatically mean schizophrenia, but it does require evaluation by a psychiatrist or neurologist.
76. Can exercises reduce tinnitus?
Physical exercise does not reduce the audibility of tinnitus, but it increases a person's mental resilience to constant tinnitus and helps them tolerate it more easily. However, exercises that require excessive force should be avoided. The best training is one that involves both the mind and the body.
77. What non-medical options are available to alleviate tinnitus?
There are several non-medication-based options available to alleviate tinnitus. Various therapies are used for this purpose, the best known of which is probably tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), in which the person learns to reevaluate their attitude toward tinnitus and thus make it less disturbing. In addition, there are other therapies (ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and CBT - Cognitive Behavior Therapy), which are somewhat different, but which result in the person accepting the tinnitus and no longer paying attention to it. Meditation is also widely used and has similar properties in alleviating tinnitus. All of these therapies take a relatively long time and require the patient to be committed to the healing process. Therapies last from a few months to a couple of years and, after instruction, can also be performed at home. Unfortunately, we do not have enough experienced therapists.
78. Are there specialists in Estonia who deal with tinnitus therapy?
Yes. You can find relevant specialists by contacting the Estonian Mental Health Association. The association's team includes several psychologists who are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Estonian Mental Health Association
79. Is meditation beneficial for tinnitus?
Meditation is currently considered the best therapy for coping with tinnitus, as this technique is relatively easy to learn and can be practiced independently at home. For many people, meditation is associated with something mysterious and incomprehensible, but once the principles of meditation are explained, people usually understand its benefits. There are many recommendations and guides on meditation available on the internet.
80. What is the best exercise for tinnitus?
Yoga is an excellent exercise for tinnitus sufferers, as it combines meditative breathing and relaxation techniques with healthy exercise. https://yoga.ee/
81. Tinnitus exercises
Focus on a specific muscle, inhale, and tense the muscle you are focusing on for 8 seconds. Relax it abruptly and exhale slowly. Continue this progression systematically from your head to your feet. This exercise has a general strengthening effect, although it will not eliminate tinnitus.
82. What kind of noise masks tinnitus?
The results show that, in addition to the traditional masking method using a tinnitus masker in a hearing aid, which mostly uses pure tones, a combination of multiple tones should be used to mask tinnitus, as these can more effectively reduce the nerve activity associated with tinnitus. The reason for this is that tinnitus rarely occurs as a pure tone, and therefore a sound background consisting of multiple tones would be more effective. The best background sounds consist mainly of nature-related sounds, including rain, distant thunderstorms, and ocean waves. These sounds can help mask your tinnitus and provide relaxation. All of these can be found on the internet. It is best to use white noise, in which all sound frequencies are represented at equal intensity. However, increased background noise cannot be recommended as a permanent solution, as it is somewhat similar to a painkiller, which removes the pain but does not solve the problem.
83. Does Betaserc help with tinnitus?
Betaserc has been used primarily to treat Meniere's disease, as one of its presumed effects is to dilate the capillaries in the inner ear and improve blood supply. Many specialists believe that it is a placebo drug with no actual effect. However, some people claim that it has helped them. The results vary from person to person.
84. Can tinnitus be treated surgically?
Tinnitus is usually associated with hearing loss, changes in the nerve fibers of the inner ear, and peculiarities in the brain's sound processing. Since it involves a change in the functioning of the nervous system, surgical treatment is not usually used.
Surgical treatment is only considered if the tinnitus has a specific anatomical or vascular cause:
Middle ear diseases
Otosclerosis (stiffening of the stapes) → surgical operation (stapedectomy) can improve hearing and thus also reduce tinnitus.
Middle ear tumors (e.g., glomus tumor) → tinnitus often subsides after removal.
Blood vessel-related tinnitus (pulsatile tinnitus)
If tinnitus is related to blood vessel malformations, narrowing, or aneurysms, vascular surgery or endovascular procedures can sometimes be performed.
Rare causes
In some cases, a tumor in the central nervous system (e.g., acoustic neuroma) can cause tinnitus → removing it may reduce symptoms. In a 1981 study involving more than 400 patients, 45 percent of patients had their tinnitus disappear after this surgery. If tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, aging, or noise damage, surgical intervention will not help.
85. What is the best home remedy for tinnitus?
Methods typically used in quiet environments, such as meditation or yoga, can mask the symptoms of tinnitus and improve concentration. Get enough sleep. Fatigue often makes symptoms worse, turning a quiet buzz into a loud roar. If tinnitus prevents you from sleeping well, it can lead to depression.
86. Can cleaning your ears with a vacuum device make tinnitus worse?
There have been cases where people have complained that the sound produced when cleaning their ears with a vacuum device has caused their tinnitus to become louder or, in some cases, even caused tinnitus. However, this is a fairly rare occurrence.
87. Do earplugs help with tinnitus?
Usually, after inserting earplugs, people notice that their tinnitus has not improved, but rather worsened, because the brain's auditory center compensates for the weakened hearing by increasing its own hearing sensitivity. Although it is natural for people to cover their ears when exposed to disturbingly loud noises, this does not reduce tinnitus, as it also reduces the amount of ambient noise reaching the ear, which would otherwise mask the tinnitus. At the same time, tinnitus does not occur in the outer ear in most cases. Therefore, earplugs should only be used when in noisy environments.
88. Does the brain adapt to tinnitus?
After prolonged adaptation training, your brain may be able to reduce the perception of sounds that are irrelevant in terms of information (tinnitus) so that you can focus on important sounds. An example of this is the ticking of a wall clock, which is audible but usually not perceived because our brain classifies it as an irrelevant sound.
89. How can I train my brain to adapt to tinnitus?
The main method for alleviating tinnitus is to train your brain to shift its attention away from the tinnitus sound(s) and toward the natural sounds around you. As part of this process, different types of sounds are introduced, including: partial masking, relaxation, attention shifting, and finally adaptation. A more comprehensive answer to this question can be found in the answer to question no. 78.
90. Can looking at a screen for too long cause tinnitus?
According to studies, looking at any flickering screen—computer, television, or mobile phone—has sometimes caused tinnitus. Regular use of a mobile phone for at least four years appears to be associated with a doubling of the risk of developing chronic tinnitus, according to a study published online in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
91. Why does my tinnitus change when I move my jaw?
Moving the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) can put pressure on the nerves that carry signals from the ear to the brain. It may also be related to pressure on the bone where the inner ear is located. In all of these cases, moving the jaw affects the corresponding muscle, which is attached near the temporal bone and can therefore change the tinnitus.
92. Which specialists treat tinnitus?
These specialists are otologists, or ear, nose, and throat doctors, and audiologists. Not all of them are familiar with the specifics of tinnitus.
93. Do mobile phones affect tinnitus?
This is one of the main topics of debate among scientists. The electromagnetic radio frequency radiation emitted by mobile phones, which affects the human brain in its immediate vicinity, can have a negative effect if it continues over a long period of time. This includes the possibility of developing tinnitus. For this reason, it is recommended to use a hands-free system, where the direct source of radiation is not in close proximity to the head.
94. Can masking make tinnitus worse?
Existing evidence suggests that sound therapies using white noise may provide temporary relief from tinnitus by attenuating the tinnitus sound, but in the long term they add fuel to the fire and make it worse. The goal of tinnitus treatment is to help patients learn to live with their tinnitus, which is not achieved by masking it. Masking should only be considered as a temporary aid, which should be gradually reduced until the patient learns to live with their tinnitus.
95. Are there pillows with speakers for nighttime use?
Yes, such pillows do exist. Tinnitus pillows are discreet and do not disturb others sleeping nearby. They provide local relief directly to the ears, and the volume can be adjusted as needed. A wide range of pillow features, such as filling material and consistency, are available to ensure optimal comfort. They work with a computer, radio, or MP3 player. They can be ordered from some online stores.
96. Does tinnitus worsen in cold weather?
It is not unusual for existing tinnitus to worsen or increase in cold weather. Low temperatures constrict blood vessels, which reduces blood supply to the inner ear. Colds, flu, increased pressure in the ears, and increased depression are common during the winter months, and all can contribute to worsening tinnitus symptoms.
97. Why do people say that they have been cured of tinnitus by using a certain medication?
This usually happens because tinnitus is not a chronic condition at the outset and will disappear without any intervention. If someone happens to try a medication during a temporary bout of tinnitus and the tinnitus does indeed subside, it is attributed to the medication. However, the tinnitus would probably have gone away without it.
98. Is it possible to learn to live with tinnitus?
Yes. Many people successfully cope with tinnitus without any special therapy.
99. What determines a person's susceptibility to tinnitus?
It depends mainly on a person's character. Impatient choleric types, calm sanguine types, indifferent phlegmatic types, and gloomy melancholic types are the four main personality types. They all have different levels of tolerance not only for tinnitus, but also for life's difficulties in general.
100. How close is medicine to developing a cure for tinnitus?
Finding a cure for tinnitus is an active and complex area of medical research, but there is currently no universal, definitive cure for persistent tinnitus. However, there have been significant developments in recent years, and researchers are close to developing promising treatments on several fronts.
Researchers have discovered that tinnitus is associated with overactive nerve patterns in the brain.
Research is ongoing into various technologies, such as:
TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) – stimulates the brain non-invasively with magnetic pulses.
tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) – uses weak electrical currents.
Bimodal stimulation – for example, simultaneous auditory and lingual nerve stimulation (e.g., Lenire™ device) has already been approved for use in Europe and the US and shows good results in some cases.
However, these therapies are still largely laboratory experiments and long-term results have not yet been established.
