Tinnitus – a term often associated with hearing loss is surprisingly experienced by an estimated 50 million Americans. Simply put, tinnitus is the perceived hearing of sounds and noise (such as ringing or buzzing) by your brain. It is usually a result of damage to the tiny hairs in your inner ears. It is not a condition, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition – such as hearing loss.
In our tinnitus blog post series we discuss everything you need to know about tinnitus and ringing in the ear. Below, we have outlined the symptoms of the most common types. We strongly recommend you seek immediate guidance from your doctor and audiologist if you experience any of these symptoms.
Pulsatile Tinnitus
In this type of tinnitus you may hear different rhythmic noises that go in line with your pulse rate. This happens due to the changes in blood flow in your ear vessels, vascular malfunctions, or abnormal pressures in the cerebral. The most common symptoms experienced are dizziness, headaches, and any physical pain.
Hyperacusis
You may be suffering from Hyperacusis if you’re experiencing symptoms such as discomfort towards loud sounds, inability to listen to loud music, or finding any sound unbearably loud despite it being set at a normal volume. Hyperacusis is common in people who work in the music industry or those who work around heavy machinery.
Musical Hallucinations
Musical Hallucinations happen when you start hearing snippets of songs instead of the usual buzzing in the ear. The symptoms are long-lasting. They can turn out to be serious, so if you feel like you are experiencing symptoms of Musical Hallucinations, you should seek a specialist immediately. To help reduce the symptoms, you can opt for hearing aids designed to mask tinnitus that may help to relieve the constant disturbance you may experience.
Whether your symptoms manifest on specific occasions or daily, seeking medical help is strongly recommended, as this can have a severe and serious effect on your concentration levels and life in general. Your doctor may be able to help you prevent worsening your tinnitus and recommend treatments for your specific needs.
Next: learn more about what causes tinnitus and how to prevent it.
*Please note, the information listed in our blog, posts and forums is not and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for diagnostics, treatment and medical information and advice.