Tinnitus affects more than 50 million people in the United States. The condition causes a ringing, buzzing, clicking or roaring sound in the ears that, in most cases, cannot be heard from the outside. The severity and impact of tinnitus can vary from person to person and day to day.
Let’s look at a couple of different types of tinnitus and what you can do to begin managing your symptoms.
Tinnitus in Broad Terms
Tinnitus is usually broken down into two broad categories, including:
- Objective tinnitus. Objective tinnitus is extremely rare because it can be heard from the outside. The ringing or other sound is likely generated from a condition inside the body, like a muscle spasm or vascular disorder.
- Subjective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus is the most common type and can only be heard from the inside. Because subjective tinnitus cannot be heard from the outside, it is diagnosed mainly through symptoms.
Objective and subjective tinnitus are then defined as either bothersome or nonbothersome. Bothersome tinnitus can have an adverse impact on a patient’s life, leading to stress, fatigue, headaches, poor sleep, trouble concentrating and more. With bothersome tinnitus, something as simple as ordering your favorite latte at Perfect Blend can come with a headache.
Nonbothersome tinnitus, while likely annoying when it presents, can be easily shaken off or ignored.
The Four Main Types of Tinnitus
While tinnitus is often identified and treated in broad terms, medical literature may break it down further into one of the following four categories:
- Primary tinnitus. Primary tinnitus is associated with sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss found in the inner ear). With hearing loss, the brain’s auditory center has decreased input, causing it to create its own noise in the form of tinnitus.
- Secondary tinnitus. Secondary tinnitus is associated with sources outside of hearing loss. Sources may include loud noise exposure, physical trauma, medication, Eustachian tube dysfunction, ear infections and more.
- Pulsatile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus emits internal noise in a rhythmic pulsing, thumping, throbbing or whooshing sound often likened to a heartbeat.
- Somatic tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus changes based on sensory input in the body. When you have a muscle spasm, clenching of the jaw, shoulders and neck or movement of the head and body, tinnitus symptoms may increase in intensity.
How Can You Manage Tinnitus?
While there is no known cure for tinnitus, there are a couple of effective symptom management techniques, including but not limited to:
- Hearing aids. Hearing aids amplify external noise to drown out the internal ringing of tinnitus.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT aims at reducing the stress, anxiety and other negative emotions associated with tinnitus noise. While you will still hear the ringing, the side effects of the conditions should be reduced with effective CBT.
For more information on managing your tinnitus, contact North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab today to make an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.