Tag Archive for: March Post 2

An illustration of a woman suffering from ringing in her ears called tinnitus

Q&A: Does Tinnitus Go Away?

That Ringing or Buzzing Isn’t Always Permanent. Get the Facts Here.

Q: I’ve been experiencing high-pitched sounds in my head for as long as I can remember. They’re infrequent but kind of disruptive — I might be in the middle of a conversation, and suddenly this sonic whine erupts in my ear before fading out soon afterward. Do annoying tinnitus sounds like these ever go away?

A: The short answer: Sometimes. In certain cases, tinnitus can eventually resolve on its own over time or with treatment of the underlying condition that caused it. For many, the problem could be permanent but potentially manageable with specific therapies.

Let’s look at factors that influence tinnitus, the likelihood of the condition resolving, and what you can do.

 

Some Tinnitus Basics

Before diving into the question of whether tinnitus goes away, it’s important to understand what the condition is — and isn’t. Tinnitus isn’t a disease. Instead it’s a sign or symptom of a more primary medical issue — for example, head or neck injury, medication reaction, ear infection, temporomandibular joint issues, ear-canal blockage, or hearing loss.

One of the most commonly described tinnitus symptoms involves ringing in the ears or head. Other sounds, however, can include buzzing, clicking, whooshing, hissing, humming, high-pitched sonic sensations, or even musical notes. They can be intermittent or continuous, with frequency and intensity varying from person to person.

Most of the time, the sound is audible only to the person experiencing the symptoms. Known as “subjective tinnitus,” this more common occurrence relates to issues within the auditory system, such as age-related hearing loss, earwax blockages, or inner-ear damage from excess exposure to loud noise.

With objective tinnitus, however, both the affected person and others — for example, a health care provider using a stethoscope or listening close to the ear, can hear the sounds. Though rare, this occurrence is more possible with pulsatile tinnitus and is usually linked to physical issues such as blood vessel disorders or muscle contractions near the ear.

Tinnitus can occur in one or both ears and generally comes in two forms. Determining which type of tinnitus you’re dealing with can play a role in uncovering the cause:

  • Pulsatile tinnitus is characterized by ear-ringing that seems to pulse in sync with the person’s heartbeat. It typically originates from issues such as heightened blood pressure, artery problems near the ear, or blockages in the ear canal.
  • Nonpulsatile tinnitus is characterized by a ringing, humming, or other sound unrelated to any pulsing or rhythm. It’s more common and typically arises, for example, from earwax blockage, noise exposure, or age-related hearing loss.

 

Tinnitus Resolution — Influencing Factors

As many as 1 in 4 people may have tinnitus, which can be temporary or permanent. And just as each person’s tinnitus symptoms can prove quite different from another’s, resolution can also vary and may depend on factors including underlying cause, overall health, lifestyle factors, and other elements that can come into play.

Here are some key influencers on whether tinnitus goes away:

 

Reversible Root Cause

If the tinnitus resulted from a potentially reversible issue, such as an earwax blockage, an ear infection, or a medication side effect, addressing the cause may lead to resolution. In these cases, the tinnitus may lessen or potentially disappear altogether.

 

Age-Related Hearing Decline

With aging can come a decrease in the ear’s functioning hair cells, which in turn could lead to hearing loss-related tinnitus. The tinnitus may not entirely disappear, but hearing aids or treatments specific to tinnitus can help address it and the hearing difficulties.

 

Noise-Related Hearing Problems

From music concerts to power tools, motorcycle engines, heavy machinery, and even some everyday appliances, exposure to sounds at or above the danger threshold of 85 decibels can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus, which can be temporary or permanent.

 

Lifestyle Factors

In addition to avoiding exposure to loud noises, discussed above, other actions such as reducing stress, getting restful sleep, eating a balanced diet, eschewing tobacco, and engaging in regular exercise may also help reduce or in some cases eliminate symptoms.

 

Individual Sensitivity

As mentioned earlier, some people may find that their tinnitus gradually fades over time. Others may experience a persistent perception of sound. Factors such as genetics and individual sensitivity to tinnitus symptoms could contribute to these variations.

 

Common Tinnitus Treatments

Tinnitus can be effectively managed. Depending on the underlying cause, addressing the problem may include approaches ranging from earwax removal, hearing aids, cochlear implants, or sound devices to medication adjustments, lifestyle changes, or interventions such as tinnitus retraining therapy.

Other types of counseling, such as sleep, cognitive behavioral therapy, or relaxation methods, can also play an important role in helping you or a loved one manage tinnitus symptoms by reducing the stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness often associated with the condition.

Relief might also involve habituation, in which the brain adapts to tinnitus such that symptoms are significantly less bothersome. Sound therapy, using external sounds to reduce the perceived intensity of tinnitus noise and make it less noticeable, can play a role in that approach.

In certain situations, surgery recommended to correct an underlying issue — an acoustic neuroma or benign tumor along a hearing nerve, for example — may help relieve tinnitus symptoms for some patients.

As you can see, a range of factors help determine tinnitus resolution. Though the symptoms may not disappear for everyone, they can be significantly reduced and controlled. You don’t have to put up with tinnitus!

 

Tinnitus at a Glance: 7 Quick Facts

  1. Tinnitus — the perception of ringing, buzzing, clicking, or other head or ear noises usually with no external source — is not a disease but often instead a sign or symptom of an underlying issue.
  2. Up to 25% of the global population may have tinnitus, which can affect people of nearly every age but appears to be most common among those between 40 and 80.
  3. Various conditions can lead to tinnitus, including exposure to loud noise, earwax blockages, head or neck trauma, ear infection, age-related hearing loss, or other conditions such as Ménière’s disease.
  4. Tinnitus can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, disturbing the ability to concentrate or sleep; interfering with everyday activities; and even, in some cases, leading to anxiety, depression, or other mental-health challenges.
  5. Though most tinnitus doesn’t self-resolve, various treatments such as sound therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, hearing aids, and even some lifestyle changes can significantly limit its symptoms, intensity, and impact.
  6. Research into tinnitus is always ongoing, with science working to better understand how it develops, explore future treatments, and improve quality of life for those experiencing symptoms.
  7. Prevention plays a big role, making it especially important to limit exposure to loud noises (including wearing hearing protection) and schedule regular hearing evaluations to catch and address potential issues early.

Are you or a loved one experiencing tinnitus? It’s essential to consult a professional to determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate plan tailored to your individual needs. If you have questions about the condition or want to learn what management options might be available, don’t wait. Contact our knowledgeable team today!

A caricature of a man receiving energy via a battery

Erectile Dysfunction and Hearing Loss

Quality of life is something that’s on everyone’s minds these days. How to live better, feel better, and make the most of the relationships and activities we enjoy. It’s no secret that health concerns can present challenges that affect our quality of life, and hearing loss and erectile dysfunction are two of them. These conditions are relatively easy to treat, but few people realize they’re linked.

What the research says

A study conducted by the Department of Otolaryngology at Taipei Medical University Hospital found that men who experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) were about twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as their peers with normal hearing. This held true across different age groups. No conclusions have been drawn about the reason behind the correlation, but researchers strongly suspect it may be of a vascular nature, as subjects with hypertension and chronic renal disease were found to be at an even greater risk of ED. Hearing loss is also known to be exacerbated by vascular diseases.

SSHL is defined as a partial or total hearing loss that occurs rapidly over the course of hours or days. This is considered a medical emergency and should be investigated by a doctor right away. Only a small percentage of diagnosed cases of SSHL have an identifiable cause, but the most common triggers include:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Trauma, such as a head injury
  • Autoimmune diseases, such as Cogan’s syndrome
  • Ototoxic drugs (drugs that harm the sensory cells in the inner ear)
  • Blood circulation problems
  • A tumor on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain
  • Neurologic diseases and disorders, such as multiple sclerosis
  • Disorders of the inner ear, such as Ménière’s disease

Men living with a hearing loss that occurred suddenly should be aware that they have an increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

The effects of ED medication on hearing

Unfortunately, the connection between sudden hearing loss and erectile dysfunction also goes in the other direction. Sometimes ED precedes SSHL, and it’s the medications used to treat the former that lead to the latter.

In the United States, the FDA relabeled phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor erectile-dysfunction drugs after finding over 30 reports of sudden hearing loss in male patients taking Viagra. Since then, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have discovered that men over 40 taking PDE5 drugs (which include Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra) have double the risk of developing hearing loss compared to men who do not.

The FDA reports that some incidents of sudden hearing loss also included vestibular problems such as tinnitus, vertigo, or dizziness, and that the hearing loss was temporary in about a third of cases. There is some evidence that cessation of ototoxic medications can reverse the hearing damage they cause, but patients are advised to consult their doctor before stopping a medication. Click here for more information about ototoxicity and what to do if you experience it.


If you or someone you love is currently being treated for erectile dysfunction, be on the lookout for hearing issues and contact an audiologist or ENT for an evaluation!

Sources

Hsu, Hsin-Te, et al. Increased Risk of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Otology & Neurotology. https://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2013&issue=07000&article=00014&type.  Accessed November 2, 2022.

McGwin, Gerald Jr. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use and hearing impairment. Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20479381/. Accessed November 4, 2022.

Medical News Today. FDA Reports Hearing Loss Linked To Viagra And Other PDE5 Inhibitors. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/86215. Accessed November 8, 2022.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Sudden Deafness. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/sudden-deafness. Accessed November 8, 2022.

should-i-clean-my-ears-at-home

Should I Clean My Ears at Home?

By now, many of you have probably seen or heard of videos in which various people demonstrate how to use OTC digital otoscopes and ear irrigation kits to clean your ears at home. While this can be a tempting foray into self-care, we want to remind you that ear cleaning should be done by a professional! Here’s why:

Ears are generally self-cleaning. Unless you’re accumulating serious buildup, there won’t be an excess of wax to begin with. Movement of the jaw during talking and chewing helps move earwax to the outer ear, where it can be easily washed away during a shower. You won’t even notice this is happening. The recent trend of ear cleaning is just that — a trend. For most of us, it’s unnecessary.

In individuals who do experience buildup, audiologists use a special instrument called a curette to gently remove it. It is important that a professional do this for you. You’ve undoubtedly already heard that inserting objects, such as cotton swabs, into the ear canal can risk eardrum perforation, but digital otoscopes and irrigation kits should be avoided as well. They are easy to misuse and can exacerbate the problem — particularly if it’s due to a physical cause, such as a narrow ear canal or underlying medical condition.

Digital otoscopes are especially risky, as they require very precise control of the instrument and an understanding of how your movements correspond to the image on the screen. They may also provide a misleading impression of how much buildup is actually in your ear. Wax traps debris and microbes and keeps your ears healthy. Too little can lead to itchiness and infections, and too much can lead to blockages and discomfort.

The bottom line: If you’re curious or concerned about the amount of wax in your ears, don’t take matters into your own hands, and instead make an appointment with an audiologist or ENT!

For general ear cleaning at home, here are some do’s and don’ts:

  • DO use a warm, soft cloth — after washing or showering — to remove normal amounts of earwax in the outer ear.
  • DO gently soften the earwax with drops of warmed olive oil, almond oil, water, or a commercial solution to remove larger amounts of earwax or an earwax plug.
  • DON’T use ear candles, which may cause serious injury and have not been proven effective in clinical trials.
  • DON’T stick cotton swabs or other objects in the ear; they can cause injury and push wax farther into the ear canal.

By following these simple rules, you can ensure your ears remain clear and healthy.


Feeling a little plugged up? Call us today to schedule a consultation and ear cleaning.