Eeeeeeeee: How to Manage Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. More specifically, it’s that weird whine in your ear no one can else can hear after you’ve been near an explosion, or too close to the speakers at an Iron Maiden concert. While it's a common issue, affecting a large percentage of veterans, it can be a persistent and sometimes debilitating condition. What tinnitus is, its causes, and effective strategies to manage and alleviate its symptoms can be useful knowledge to keep the hum in check.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying condition. It involves hearing sounds when no external sound is present. These sounds can vary widely and include ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or roaring. The intensity and frequency of these sounds can also differ, ranging from a faint background noise to a loud, disruptive sound, and can be affected by the environment. There is often no cure for this condition depending on its cause, and in fact there is no test to prove you have the condition (the VA mostly gives an automatic 10% for this reason).

Tinnitus can result from various underlying conditions, including:

• Hearing Loss - Age-related hearing loss or exposure to loud noises can damage the hair cells in the inner ear, leading to tinnitus.
• Ear Infections or Blockages - Ear infections, excessive earwax, or blockages in the ear canal can cause tinnitus.
• Medications - Some medications, especially in high doses, can lead to tinnitus. Common culprits include antibiotics, diuretics, and certain cancer medications.
• Head or Neck Injuries - Trauma to the head or neck can affect the auditory nerves or brain function linked to hearing, resulting in tinnitus.
• Health Conditions - Conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, and autoimmune disorders can contribute to tinnitus.

Seeking Professional Help

If you experience tinnitus, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional. An audiologist or an ENT specialist can perform a thorough evaluation, identify any underlying conditions, and recommend appropriate treatments or management strategies. If nothing else, the documentation for the VA can be handy.

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At Home Remedies

Some Veterans have reported that using a large ice roller to roll out the muscles in their jaw, neck, and temple can help manage their symptoms. Stress, tension, and other factors can make tinnitus worse, and at home remedies like ice packs, rollers, and white noise devices have reportedly helped manage the worst of it, although this may not work for everyone.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

In some cases, the ringing you hear can be psychosomatic, meaning your brain is tricking you into thinking there is a problem because you aren’t addressing the underlying psychological issues causing damage. CBT is a form of talk therapy that helps change negative thought patterns and behaviors related to tinnitus. By addressing the emotional and psychological impact of tinnitus, CBT can reduce stress, anxiety, and improve coping strategies.

Sound Therapy

Sound therapy involves using external noise to alter the perception of tinnitus. This can include white noise machines, hearing aids with masking features, or even environmental sounds like rain or ocean waves. The goal is to provide a more pleasant or neutral sound to distract from the tinnitus. Ever wonder why everyone from the south sleeps with the fan on regardless of the weather? To drown out the noise, which also works for the brain hum.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT combines Sound Therapy with CBT, aiming to habituate the patient to the tinnitus sound, making it less noticeable over time. This method requires guidance from a trained professional and can take a year or two to achieve significant results.

Medications

While there’s no specific medication for tinnitus, certain drugs can help reduce the severity of symptoms or treat underlying conditions. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and other prescriptions may be recommended by a healthcare provider. This option is more for those who suffer from a severe version of the condition, as there can be serious consequences to starting a pharmaceutical regimen.

Tinnitus can be a challenging condition, but understanding its causes and adopting effective management techniques can significantly improve the quality of life for those affected. Different options can work for different people, but finding a management approach that works for you can really improve your day-to-day existence. As an infantryman, it’s hard enough hearing people when you’re half deaf from tank rounds and shape charges, so if you can beat the ringing it’s a step in the right direction.

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Featured image by Photo by 1st Lt. Chad Cooper