3 Ways Tinnitus Impacts Quality of Life

Tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears, is often associated with temporary symptoms, but for some people, it can be a chronic, debilitating problem. When you experience tinnitus, you hear noises in your ears that aren’t produced by an external source. In most cases, people report hearing a ringing noise, but tinnitus can also present in the form of buzzing, whooshing and humming sounds. If you’re struggling to live with tinnitus, it’s advisable to seek help from an audiologist. There are treatments and therapies available, and often, tinnitus is linked to an underlying cause. While many cases of tinnitus are temporary and mild, some have a dramatic impact on quality of life.

Tinnitus affects people in different ways, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. While many people experience ringing in the ears after a night out, for example, others have symptoms that plague them day in, day out. Here are three ways tinnitus can impact your quality of life:

1. Sleep troubles

Sleep is vital for good health. Your body needs rest to recover and undergo running repairs. If you don’t get enough sleep, your physical and mental health can go down. Tinnitus is often associated with sleep troubles because it can be very difficult to switch off and get to sleep when you have noises in your ears. If your ears are ringing, and all you can focus on is humming or buzzing noises, it could take you hours to doze off. One sleepless night might not make a difference, but if you experience sleep problems on a regular basis, you may start to notice a change in your mood, a lack of energy and increased susceptibility to illness and stress. If tinnitus is making it impossible for you to get to sleep, using a sound machine may help. Sound machines generate soothing background noises, which help to nullify the impact of tinnitus symptoms. 

2. Concentration

Have you ever tried to focus on something when your mind is occupied, or you’re trying to filter out noise in the office or drilling from the road below? Concentrating can be difficult enough without having to overcome tinnitus. If you’re working on a project, and you’ve got swooshing and hissing noises in your ears that you can’t seem to switch off or ignore, your performance may well be hampered. If you can’t concentrate, it’s easy to become distracted, and you might not be able to undertake and complete tasks as well as usual. If tinnitus is affecting your ability to focus, or your performance at work, it’s wise to seek advice from an audiologist. 

3. Hearing loss

It’s very common for people who have recurrent bouts of tinnitus to experience hearing loss. Hearing loss is often caused by damage to the delicate structures inside the ear and is most prevalent among older people. If you have tinnitus, hearing loss can make symptoms appear more noticeable, exaggerating the phantom sounds. This is since you can’t hear noises that would otherwise mask those caused by tinnitus. As well as making the symptoms of tinnitus more pronounced, hearing loss can also make you feel isolated, it may increase the risk of anxiety, and it can impair your ability to appreciate your surroundings. It can be very difficult to accept that your hearing is deteriorating, but there are effective treatments available. 

Seeking advice for tinnitus

Tinnitus can be a fleeting problem, which doesn’t require further investigation or intervention, but it can also be a long-term issue, which has a negative impact on quality of life. If you’re finding it hard to sleep or concentrate because of tinnitus, or you’re worried about your hearing, don’t hesitate to seek advice from an audiologist. There may be a simple solution for cases linked to temporary or treatable causes, and if hearing loss is detected, your audiologist will be able to tell you everything you need to know about hearing aids. Hearing loss is usually a gradual process and identifying signs early on is hugely beneficial. Wearing hearing aids will enable you to pick up sounds you’ve been missing, which should improve communication, make you feel more confident and reduce the severity of tinnitus signs. 

Tinnitus is often thought of as a problem, but for many people, it can be life changing. If you’re finding life tough because you can’t shut out those ringing or humming noises. Call Hinderliter Hearing Services at 248-430-8425 today to find out more about tinnitus treatment and book an appointment.