Tinnitus: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

The Tinnitus or Tinnitus, are a very frequent auditory problem that consists of perceiving"buzzing in the ear", a sound that does not come from the outside, but from the Inside the person.

Those who suffer from this phenomenon perceive a vibration in the ear or listen to some kind of sound that does not come from any external stimulus to Them, but it has been generated in your ear or in your mind.

Tinnitus

Definition

What the person perceives can vary between a beep, a buzzing, a hissing, a whistle, a heartbeat... which is usually only heard by the person Affected.

This problem can occur in one ear, so that tinnitus would be unilateral; In both, which would be a bilateral tinnitus; Or in isolation In the mind of the person. The most common is that the tinnitus is bilateral and the loudest and most annoying is the one that occurs in the person's mind.

It can also be presented on a continuous basis, which makes the consequences more serious and disabling; Or discontinuous, which makes the Problem is easier to carry for those who have it.

Depending on the way tinnitus is presented, the quality of life Of the person will be affected to a greater or lesser degree. There are people who They are quite comfortable with tinnitus, while others find it much more difficult to adjust.

The discomfort that this phenomenon produces is increased when there is no environmental noise, when everything is silent, since there is no noise that attenúev The sound produced by the tinnitus, which is heard with greater clarity and intensity.

With tinnitus it is not the same as with environmental noises, that we get used to them and we do not perceive them after a while, but Our mind is unable to stop focusing all their attention on them.

This happens because our brain interprets the noise of the tinnitus as something new, unknown and dangerous, to which we must not stop lending Attention in no time.

Types of Tinnitus

Within tinnitus we find two types:

  • The Subjective tinnitus , Which can only be heard by the person who suffers them.

  • The Objective tinnitus , Which can only be heard by the affected person and anyone who is very close to it.

Tinnitus may be an individual problem or arise from a previous health problem, but regardless of the reason Tinnitus tend to be permanent.

The probability of suffering this hearing problem increases with age, being more frequent that occurs in people over forty, about All in the elderly, although it can affect anyone.

Statistically, 30% of the population has had tinnitus at some point in their life and about 15% Continuously, causing serious problems in 1% of the population.

Tinnitus is one of the main reasons for consultation in primary care consultations and is more frequent in men than in women.

According to American Tinnitus Association , The three most disabling symptoms that a person can suffer are, first, the intense pain, in Second, disturbances of balance and, thirdly, tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a problem that affects more and more people every day due to the inappropriate use we make of the music devices and the levels so high that We have noise pollution.

Causes of tinnitus

It was once believed that tinnitus was produced exclusively by the alteration of the cochlear system, which is a very delicate system whose Alteration can easily cause problems in the auditory pathway.

It is now known that tinnitus is produced by the alterations of the cochlear system and by the alterations of the Central Nervous System, By an erroneous interpretation of the brain of the nerve impulses.

Tinnitus arises from the alteration of the cochlear system and the Central Nervous System, which means that this auditory problem arises:

  • For ear injuries.

  • For hearing loss.

  • For problems in the auditory system.

  • By exposure to loud noises continuously over time.

  • By contractions of the musculature of the ear, which arise as a consequence of not having a proper head and neck posture.

  • Contractions of the muscles of the throat

  • For vascular problems in the head.

  • By intracranial hypertension.

  • Trauma to the head and neck.

  • For stressful situations, whether work, family, personal...

  • As a result of some physical problems, such as for example an arrhythmia, hyperthyroidism, a deviation of the mandible, a Otitis due to anemia...

  • As a symptom of some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or certain types of tumors located in the head.

  • In response to aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy.

  • As a result of excessive consumption of certain drugs.

  • As a result of a plugging of the ears.

  • Etc.

Consequences of tinnitus

The consequences of this type of auditory problem are many and tend to affect the quality of life of 25% of the people who suffer from it.

Those affected, at first, feel scared, misunderstood and disoriented because they suffer from a type of problem Majority of the population and because they have a problem that is not visible, so that these reactions intensify.

People with this hearing problem have serious difficulties concentrating on their day-to-day tasks, since all the available attention is Focuses on the noise produced by the tinnitus.

For this same reason they also suffer from fatigue and loss of energy, which causes the affected people to stop performing those activities that Before the auditory lesion interested them.

This reluctance and apathy, along with the feeling of incomprehension and loneliness , Leads them to social isolation, which can lead to a depression .

All these symptoms can have an impact on the person's working life, causing them to not perform in the right way or, in the worst case, Absenteeism begins to occur due to the discomfort caused by tinnitus.

Difficulties in sleeping are also very frequent due to the intensification of tinnitus at night by the existing silence.

In many cases the affected person becomes obsessed with the problem, which makes it worse. Along with the obsession can occur stress , Worry, anxiety, irritability, emotional lability...

Those affected are afraid that tinnitus will increase in intensity over time and will have an even greater impact on their lives.

The involvement of tinnitus in the quality of life of those affected is such that 1% presents ideas and attempts to commit suicide.

All the symptoms mentioned here can be increased by poor management of the health professional, which can alarm the patient by saying that You should get used to tinnitus and learn to live with it, without providing any solution.

Treatment of tinnitus

Tinnitus is a type of hearing problem that has no cure, so there is no treatment that eliminates tinnitus permanently.

What does exist is a series of treatments that aim to have the affected person become accustomed to tinnitus, that is, that the person makes a Completely normal life without noticing the presence of tinnitus, unless you direct your attention to it.

Some of these treatments are:

Tinnitus Masker

A tinnitus masker is an electronic hearing device that is placed in the ear and emits sounds. The purpose of this apparatus, as Its name suggests, is that the sounds emitted mask the sound produced by tinnitus.

In this way, the affected person will stop hearing You will hear other sounds that will lessen your quality of life and allow you to Activities of your day to day. In this case the tinnitus does not disappear, but thanks to the masker the person notices the negative consequences Of the problem that suffers and can lead a more normal life.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

This therapy is the most used in the treatment of tinnitus and consists in teaching the unconscious auditory system that tinnitus is a Sound normal and current, which should not be alarmed when listening.

This therapy starts by informing the patient about everything related to his Tinnitus for him to consider it as something normal and not as a threat. In this way, the level of activation of the Nervous System Central. The treatment continues with sound therapy, which aims to make the patient habituated to tinnitus and stop perceiving it.

To achieve this habituation is worked to decrease the difference between tinnitus and the sounds that are produced around us. This Therapy is complicated and long, the average is two years, but the results are very satisfactory, reaching the patient to spend long Without tinnitus.

Rehabilitation

S If tinnitus is due to some muscular contraction of the ear or throat, it will suffice to perform rehabilitation exercises so that the Auditory problem disappears. In these cases, tinnitus is temporary and can be cured because it is due to a physical problem that has an easy solution.

Hearing aid

If tinnitus has arisen from a previous hearing problem, such as hearing loss associated with age, Hearing aid or any other hearing aid can solve, or at least minimize, both problems. In this case, tinnitus is a symptom Can be eliminated by treating the previous auditory problem that has generated it.

Pharmacotherapy

There are many different drugs used to treat tinnitus ( Antidepressants , Anxiolytics , Anesthetics, Corticoids...), but there appear to be no stable and reliable clinical studies to support its use.

In fact, there are studies that do not Recommend for the side effects they produce. Although each case should be reviewed, since if tinnitus has been produced by An infection, drugs can eliminate the problem.

In case you suspect that you may have this type of hearing problem, the first thing to do is to see a medical professional so that you can Diagnose and guide you in the steps you must follow for your treatment.

There are many alternative therapies and treatments that are not endorsed by health professionals and whose results are questionable. Be aware of Those miracle therapies that promise healing, because in most cases that does not exist.

Before the actual existence of tinnitus you must pay attention to the medical professionals and follow the guidelines that you recommend.

Psychological treatment of tinnitus

Brief psychotherapy

Parallel to the auditory treatment, the ideal is that patients receive psychological treatment to treat the consequences that result from The tinnitus.

The most important thing is that people affected by tinnitus accept that there is no cure, that is, they accept that they have a hearing problem and That they must live with him the rest of their lives. If the person accepts this, the psychological therapy will advance considerably.

Within the objectives of psychological treatment is the management of stress. The higher the level of stress the person has, the more Perceived tinnitus, so it is very important that the person learns to control their stress levels.

It is also very important that people who are affected learn to relax. This is achieved through the practice of relaxation exercises, thanks to Which the patient can lower their level of activation and minimize the effects of tinnitus.

Another goal of psychological therapy is to help those affected to sleep by teaching them healthy habits to help them fall asleep.

If a person does not get enough rest, the problems he suffers are aggravated, that is why it is so important that people with tinnitus get sleep all right .

Through the management of stress, Relaxation And rest is achieved Decrease the level of anxiety Of the person and, consequently, are diminished The harmful effects of tinnitus.

With all these techniques what is intended is that the patient learn to live with tinnitus while acquiring resources to manage the Consequences that are so annoying and disabling that arise from the problem.

For people who may be interested, there are support groups for people affected by tinnitus in many cities in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Bilbao, A Coruña, Salamanca, Valencia, Seville, Malaga...).

Group therapy helps affected people to accept the problem, to feel supported and understood, and to reduce the negative consequences of Tinnitus

Tips to Minimize the Consequences of Tinnitus

Here are a few tips that will help you minimize the negative consequences of tinnitus:

  • Sleep well.

  • Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tobacco and alcohol.

  • Avoid taking aspirins, they can make tinnitus worse.

  • Avoid situations that cause you anxiety, stress or fatigue, as this increases your perception of tinnitus, aggravating your consequences.

  • Avoid those situations with high noise levels, as they can further damage your ears. In case you can not avoid this kind of Situations, protect your ears to avoid damage.

  • Practice regular exercise, it will help you to better sleep and, consequently, reduce the negative effects of tinnitus.

  • Learn stress management exercises and relaxation exercises.

CONCLUSIONS

As you can see, tinnitus is a serious hearing problem that affects a large part of the population and Lower grade, in the quality of life of the affected person.

If you have tinnitus, the best thing you can do is put it in the hands of health professionals to help you with the problem. The best treatment at Following is a combination of the corresponding auditory treatment along with psychological therapy.

And, in case you do not suffer, protect your hearing system away from loud noises, protecting you before them, having a correct posture of Head and neck... In your hands is to prevent, as much as possible, tinnitus.

References

  1. Espinosa-Sánchez JM, Heitzmann-Hernández T, López-Escámez JA. (2014). Pharmacological treatment of tinnitus: a lot of noise and few nuts. Journal of Neurology, 59: 164-74.
  2. Gálvez Extremera, F. S. PegalaJar Chlca, J. Espinosa Sánchez, J. M. (2006). The evaluation of the psychological discomfort associated with tinnitus Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire: adaptation to the Spanish population. Analysis and Modification of Conduct, 32, 145.
  3. Lalueza Broto, P. Girona Brumós, L. (2014). Tinnitus and drugs. Association of people affected by Tinnitus.
  4. Sáez-Jiménez, R. Herráiz-Puchol, C. (2006). Tinnitus: clinical guide in primary care. Medigraphic , 8 (3), 190-196.
  5. Tamargo Menéndez, T. (2002). Contribution to the knowledge of tinnitus. Thesis. Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
  6. The New York Times (2008, April 8). New therapies for tinnitus. The country. Recovered from: .


Loading ..

Recent Posts

Loading ..