Tinnitus & Quality of Life

Tinnitus itself is defined as a “ringing” or “buzzing” sound in the ears, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), “Some 30 million Americans have tinnitus and approximately 13 million Americans report tinnitus without hearing loss.”

Tinnitus is a condition that has proven to be moderately to severely difficult to live with.  People do tend to downplay the severity of their tinnitus and consider it a mild inconvenience. If you only experience mild symptoms from time-to-time, you may learn to live with it. On the flip side, if your tinnitus impacts your life on a daily basis, it can have a severe impact on your quality of life.

There are a number of reasons for experiencing this ailment, including exposure to loud noises or a build-up of wax in the ears. Infections may also cause tinnitus, but they will usually pass after a short period of time. Additionally, stress is also a contributing factor and will increase your symptoms. If those symptoms do not go away, it may be a long-term problem for you.

Hearing Loss & Tinnitus

Typically, hearing loss and tinnitus travel together. People that experience tinnitus often experience hearing loss as well. When you find it difficult to hear, it can impact your life in a lot of different ways. People find that they have trouble engaging in social situations because they cannot follow conversations properly, which can lead to social isolation and feelings of depression.

Relationships can be difficult and your quality of life may start to diminish. It is easy to misinterpret somebody’s words when you are hard of hearing and that can lead to arguments between couples. A lack of communication also harms relationships. If you see an audiologist, they can help you to find a solution to your tinnitus and hearing loss so that it does not impact your relationships with others.



Quality of Sleep & Tinnitus

A healthy sleep schedule is very important if you want to maintain good mental and physical health. Sadly, such symptoms can make hard to maintain quality sleep patterns. A lack of sleep is one of the most common side effects of tinnitus because it is hard to sleep with a constant ringing sound in your ears.

Many people find that their symptoms are more severe at night, and if the room is particularly quiet, they are more noticeable. Lack of sleep can lead to a lack of energy, problems and increased risk of mental health issues, so it is important that you find ways to improve your sleep patterns. Many audiologists and hearing health professionals recommend using a noise machine during the night to make the ringing or clicking from tinnitus less noticeable. This will make it easier to get to sleep at night. We also recommend seeing a hearing health professional. Often times, when the hearing loss is confronted, tinnitus subsides.

Tinnitus & Concentration

When you have a constant ringing in your ears, it is incredibly difficult to concentrate, especially on complex tasks. In some cases, this can lead to dangerous situations. For example, if you are driving and you are experiencing tinnitus symptoms, it makes it a lot harder to concentrate on the road. People that work with heavy machinery may also be at risk if symptoms is particularly bad. If your tinnitus is putting you in dangerous situations, it is vital that you seek the advice of an audiologist right away.

There are some simple ways to deal with mild to moderate tinnitus, like avoiding stress or cutting back on alcohol consumption. But if you have more severe tinnitus symptoms on a regular basis, you may need to wear hearing aids and explore the possibility that you have a bigger issue like ear infections, hearing loss or something else. At Physicians Hearing Solutions, located in Warwick and East Providence, Rhode Island, our hearing healthcare professionals are here to help create a customized hearing healthcare plan for each patient. One that works to improve quality of life and supports socialization, while helping ward off Dementia and other hearing related health issues. Call our team today for a free hearing screening & hearing counseling session (401) 921-0181 or find us online at www.PHSDOCS.com.