Understanding the Causes of Tinnitus and Why Treatment Can Be Challenging, Exploring Treatment Methods.

Tinnitus refers to the perception of sound in the ears that doesn't actually exist externally. This phenomenon can occur suddenly, and about 76% of people have experienced it at least once in their lives. Intermittent symptoms of tinnitus include ringing in the ears, buzzing sounds, wind-like noises, siren sounds, or beeping noises, which typically worsen during quiet nights.

 

Primary Causes: Sensorineural Tinnitus due to Hearing Loss

The main cause of tinnitus is sensorineural tinnitus resulting from hearing loss. In this case, even if individuals perceive their hearing as normal, a hearing test may reveal high-frequency hearing loss. It's understood that when auditory information is insufficiently transmitted to the brain due to hearing loss, the brain compensates by generating sound signals. As a result, individuals perceive sounds in their ears that aren't actually there.

 

Tinnitus is more of a symptom than a disease, and it can be alleviated through appropriate treatment and advice.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

To alleviate tinnitus, accurately diagnosing the underlying condition and implementing appropriate treatment is necessary. For sensorineural tinnitus, "tinnitus retraining therapy" is often employed. This therapy consists of counseling and sound therapy, aiming to reduce negative perceptions and help individuals perceive tinnitus as an insignificant sound amidst ambient noise. Additionally, auditory rehabilitation may be conducted using sound generators or hearing aids.

 

Medication and Advice

Medications such as anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs may be used to alleviate tinnitus symptoms. However, complete cure of tinnitus with medication alone can be challenging. Since tinnitus worsens with increased attention, excessive reliance on medication may exacerbate symptoms. Furthermore, since a quiet environment can worsen symptoms, it's important to appropriately adjust the environment using background noise.

 

Tinnitus is closely related to the patient's physical and mental state, as well as sleep patterns. Managing stress and maintaining healthy sleep habits can help alleviate tinnitus symptoms. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption or caffeine intake is advisable as they can worsen tinnitus.

 

Tinnitus is more of a symptom than a disease, and it can be alleviated through appropriate treatment and advice. Consulting a doctor for accurate diagnosis and treatment is necessary, and patients themselves need to maintain healthy lifestyles and appropriately adjust their environments.