Unveiling Common Misconceptions About Ringing Ears

Have you ever experienced ringing in your ears? Sometimes you can hear ringing for a brief time before it passes, perhaps after a loud or painful noise or even an injury. But some people experience ringing in their ears without any obvious cause. This is known as tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a very common symptom of an underlying condition that can interfere with your hearing or be distracting. It has a variety of causes, and you can find a lot of information about tinnitus. However, not all of this information is accurate, leading to misconceptions. If you experience tinnitus, ringing in your ears or hearing loss, the best source of information is your audiologist. They can help you find potential causes and treatments that may help. But here are some of the most common myths you may have encountered.

Tinnitus Only Ever Sounds Like Ringing

The most common presentation of tinnitus is the characteristic ringing in the ears. But it can take other forms as well. You might hear buzzing, humming, roaring or a white noise sound in your ears.

Tinnitus is Only Caused by Loud Music

You can experience tinnitus after being exposed to loud noises for a long time, but this isn’t the only cause of tinnitus. Other causes include inner ear conditions, medications, anxiety or depression or chronic health conditions. Often, the root cause of tinnitus isn’t discovered, but it’s a good idea to get it checked out by an audiologist.

Tinnitus Will Get Worse or Lead to Hearing Loss

If you hear ringing in your ears, it doesn’t mean that it will always get worse or lead to hearing loss. Tinnitus and hearing loss can be linked, as someone with hearing loss can experience tinnitus as one of the symptoms. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone with tinnitus will lose their hearing. The causes of tinnitus can differ from person to person. If you notice your tinnitus is becoming more noticeable, contact your audiologist as there could be additional underlying causes.

Tinnitus Will Just Go Away

Unfortunately, tinnitus rarely just goes away by itself. The best option is to see an audiologist for advice and potential treatment.

You Can’t Treat Tinnitus

There are options to treat tinnitus or reduce its impact on your life. Depending on the cause of your tinnitus, you may be able to get rid of it completely. For example, if it’s caused by a medication or an earwax blockage in your ear, fixing the problem will resolve the tinnitus. Your audiologist can give you other options to help you manage your tinnitus. These include:

• • Lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking or drinking.

Sound machines.

• Hearing aids with masking features.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT).