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Tinnitus: An Emotional Journey

Tinnitus is a mystery and often so much more than mere “ringing in the ears.” No matter what the cause, noises such as buzzing, ringing, roaring, hissing or thumping  trigger all kinds of emotional responses  – from annoyance to desperation. 

In classic, “subjective” tinnitus, only the patient “hears” these phantom sounds, which frustrates many people. So far there is no cure for most cases BUT there is help. 

Here are three steps for dealing with tinnitus and for calming emotions that greatly complicate the situation.   

Step One: Check it out!

Not all tinnitus is the same. There are different types. And so, it is important to find out what the reason for the nuisance might be. Be able to describe the noise. What does it sound like? A professional consult including a detailed patient and medication history, an ear inspection and hearing tests can already tell a lot.

The majority of tinnitus cases are related to some form of hearing loss. Permanent hearing damage due to aging and/or excessive sound exposures is the most frequent cause for constant or intermittent ear or head noises known as tinnitus. 

However, there are also other issues that that can trigger tinnitus. Who knows? Maybe something is fixable or can be improved upon, such as earwax plugs, infections and other middle ear problems, medication side effects or the consequences of TMJ or of a TBI. 

BEWARE: Sounds with a thumping, throbbing, pulsating, swooshing or heartbeat quality may be related to a cardiovascular issue rather than to hearing loss or some other cause. See the doctor. These noises are said to be “objective” and can often be detected by the medical specialist. 

Tinnitus is indeed a complicated problem and therefore it is important to check it out!

Step two: Learn about it…and about yourself

Once a specialist has determined that the noise is indeed permanent, don’t despair. Help is available. Get information. Inquire about treatment options and tips for management with the audiologist or hearing specialist.  

Get to know yourself. Personality often stands in the way of improvement. Getting mad and putting up a fight does not work. As a Type A, I had to find ways to calm the emotions or to “chill.” The soothing effects of nature and meditation tunes are part of my self-treatment routine.   

Learning is liberating and empowering. It led me to new choices, different points of view and ultimately to radical acceptance. Understanding the condition helped me the most. I got to know the enemy, which changed my attitude and my approach for dealing  with the phantom ear noise. The sound is still there but I do not pay as much attention to it anymore. 

Step three: Develop a recipe for peace.

Determine what worsens and what calms the noises. Excess caffeine and sugar, stress and loud noise/music are known triggers to avoid. Focus on work and hobbies. Calm the brain with pleasant soothing sounds. Protect the ears from excessive noise which worsens hearing loss and revs up tinnitus. Keep a diary on what works and what does not. Is there a support group in your area that you might join?

Over time, most people develop their own recipes of how to adjust to the noise and how to keep it in check. The din moves into the background and does not rule life anymore. Tinnitus becomes another chronic condition that has to be managed. Ultimately, smoothing the emotional response makes tinnitus lot more tolerable. And that is good!

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To learn more about Tinnitus and/or hearing loss, please see my book on hearing lossWhat Did You Say? An Unexpected Journey into the World of Hearing Loss, now in its second updated edition. Sharing my story and what I had to learn the hard way

For Industry Safety training on Noise-induced Hearing Loss prevention or for community presentations, please see the Home Page of this site or email [email protected]

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