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Tinnitus is a medical condition that presents as a persistent, often distracting sound experienced when no corresponding physical sound is present.
Although it most commonly manifests as a high-pitched whine or ringing sound (indeed, we get the word ‘tinnitus’ from the Latin ‘tinnier’, which means ‘to ring’), tinnitus can take other forms (such as clicks or hisses, among a wide variety of other sounds).
Tinnitus is usually caused by damage to tiny hairs in the inner ear that facilitate hearing. However, it is formally classified as a symptom, not a disease. As such, tinnitus has been linked to a number of other conditions, including hearing loss, and even some forms of medication.
An estimated 1 in 7 British adults experience persistent tinnitus. In some cases, it can be truly debilitating, negatively affecting a person’s quality of life. In other cases, it is little more than a minor, temporary annoyance.
So, is tinnitus preventable?
The best way to treat tinnitus, of course, is not to let it develop in the first place. So, by understanding the main causes of tinnitus, and resolving to avoid them, tinnitus can be prevented.
The most common cause of tinnitus is age-related hearing loss. Exposure to excessive noise (either suddenly or over an extended period of time) is also a major cause, as are earwax (cerumen) build-ups or impactions, underlying medical conditions (such as Meniere’s disease or diabetes), brain or ear trauma, and, as previously stated, some forms of medication.
Some of these conditions are unavoidable. Old age is old age. It happens to everyone who is lucky enough to live that long. Underlying medical conditions, once again, are what they are, and even modern medicine can’t cure everything.
However, ear wax build-up can be treated with Olive oil (alongside other methods), and can be avoided if cotton buds and fingers aren’t used to dislodge ear wax.
Exposure to unsafe noise levels can be prevented by wearing ear protection, taking noise breaks, and learning about safe and unsafe noise levels.
It is also recommended that the volume of earpieces, earbuds, phones, or headphones always be kept to safe levels. Circulatory and heart-related problems can also lead to tinnitus, so eating healthier food and quitting smoking are also good ways to prevent this condition from developing.
Obtaining treatment (where possible) for related health conditions, as well as adopting a healthier lifestyle overall can also help to prevent tinnitus from occurring or worsening.
If you already have tinnitus, the good news is that the condition is often quite treatable. Sound generation apps, for example, can help those with mild tinnitus to sleep, while hearing aids can help those experiencing hearing loss as well as tinnitus.
Wearable sound generators are useful when out and about or travelling, while other treatment options include therapy (this is very effective with many tinnitus patients), and a variety of medications. A number of other treatments, still in the experimental stages, are also being explored at the time of writing.
As stated above, the easiest way to treat tinnitus is to prevent it entirely by taking better care of your ears and your health in general.
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