Lots of people contemplate the age old question, “If a tree fell in the forest and there was nobody there to witness it, would it make a sound?” Then, too there are those who hear sounds seemingly everywhere, even if no other living thing is around, and everything else seems to be silent as well. Despite the lack of actual sound, many among us suffer that crazy “ringing in the ears,” that is also variously described as hissing, buzzing, whistling, roaring and even chirping.
What. Is. That?
That, my friends, is medically called Tinnitus. Dr. Gyl Kasewurm and her team at Dr. Kasewurm’s Professional Hearing Services in St. Joseph say it is essentially the hearing of a sound in your ears when no external sound is actually present.
For some, tinnitus is relatively mild and more of an intermittent nuisance than anything else. For others, however, it can be of such extreme severity so s to have a profound effect on one’s actual quality of life. For anyone suffering it, regardless of severity, relief in some form is of high priority.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 45 million Americans struggle with tinnitus, making it one of the most common health conditions in the United States.
They tell us that each year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control conducts its National Health and Nutritional Examinations Survey, a longitudinal study of the health of the American population. In the 2011-2012 Survey (the most recent year from which data is available) the CDC included several questions on tinnitus, to ascertain the full scope and severity of the condition on a population level. The survey discovered:
- 15% of all survey respondents experienced some form of tinnitus
- 67% of people reporting tinnitus had regular symptoms for over a year
- 26% of people reporting tinnitus had constant or near constant tinnitus
- 30% of people reporting tinnitus classified their condition as a “moderate” to “very big” problem in their life
Extrapolating those findings to the national population suggests that nearly 20 million people are dealing with burdensome tinnitus on a regular basis; and approximately 2 million people are struggling with severe, sometimes debilitating, tinnitus.
Additionally, it has been determined that up to 90-percent of people with tinnitus have some level of noise-induced hearing loss…1 in 10 American adults have experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year…and it is also the leading service-related disability among United States Veterans.
Sadly, scientists and health experts don’t actually know the exact physical cause of tinnitus. However, several sources are know to trigger or make tinnitus worse including:
- Loud noises and hearing loss — Exposure to loud noises can destroy the non-regenerative cilia (the tiny hairs) in the cochlea, causing permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss.
- Aging — As you age, those same tiny hairs gradually deteriorate, which can lead to tinnitus and/or hearing loss.
- Ototoxic medications — Some prescription medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and antidepressents are harmful to the inner ear as well as the nerve fibers connecting the cochlea to the brain.
- Hearing conditions — Conditions such as otosclerosis and Meneiere’s disease are known to cause tinnitus.
- Health conditions — Tinnitus can also be a symptom of health conditions like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stress and head injuries.
For those in search of a cure, there is currently no known tinnitus cure, however, according to the American Tinnitus Assocation, there are recommended ways to get relief, including counseling and sound therapy. Dr. Kasewurm’s team works very closely with Starkey, which has proven tinnitus products including hearing aids and technologies which are an effective part of any sound therapy as they utilize a customizable and comforting sound stimulus that soothes the annoying noises associated with tinnitus and takes you mind off of it.
Inasmuch as the exact cause of tinnitus is not know, it has been recommended that you visit a hearing healthcare professional like those on the team of Dr. Kasewurm’s Professional Hearing Services on Renaissance Drive in the Edgewater District of St. Joseph for a clinical evaluation. They have specialized tests to diagnose tinnitus and different options which can be discussed to find what is right for you personally.
A 2010 analysis provided to the American Tinnitus Association shows several indicators regarding the issue:
- Males get tinnitus more often than females…
- Tinnitus is more common in older populations…
- Caucasions are more likely to have tinnitus…
- Some groups are more vulnerable to acquiring the condition including senior citizens, active military personnel and veterans, people employed in loud workplace environments, musicians and music lovers, motorsports and hunting enthusiasts, and people with prior behavioral health issues.
Wouldn’t you like find some form of relief for tinnitus if it is impacting you even in a small way?
Contact Dr. Gyl Kasewurm and the team at Dr. Kasewurm’s Professional Hearing Services on Renaissance Drive in the Edgewater District of St. Joseph and by phone at 269-982-3444, and let them go to work on the tinnitus affecting your life or to determine if you have the condition in the first place, and how severe it might be. Don’t suffer through another day without some form of discovery.
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