3 Ways Tinnitus Impacts Quality of Life

Have you noticed that you can hear noises that other people can’t? Don’t panic, it’s likely that you are just experiencing a condition known as tinnitus. Tinnitus causes individuals to hear noises that aren’t actually there. The noise in question could be anything from a whirring to a buzzing or even a small piece of music on repeat. 

It’s important to be aware that this noise is occurring inside your ear. As such, you will be the only person who can hear it. Tinnitus usually occurs due to damage to your hearing and your ears. However, it may also be due to an excess level of ear wax as well as a variety of other physical conditions. It’s important to understand how tinnitus may impact your quality of life. 

Tinnitus can have a variety of effects on your life. However, with the right treatment, you will be able to deal with these changes effectively. 

Changes to mood

It is possible that when you experience tinnitus you and people around you may notice changes to your mood. It’s quite difficult for people who haven’t experienced tinnitus to understand why this occurs. When you experience tinnitus, you will be hearing a noise that is often there constantly. You can’t get away from that noise and while there are ways to block it out many people are unaware of the solutions available. As such, tinnitus can be quite frustrating and irritating. So, it’s not uncommon for people experiencing this condition to display changes in their mood and beahviour. 

Some people with tinnitus will experience depression as well as anxiety because the tinnitus seems to be beyond their control. We’re going to discuss a little further down why this is not the case. 

Sleeping pattern 

You could notice new changes to your sleeping pattern if you are experiencing tinnitus. The sound caused by tinnitus can seem louder at night. It’s important to be aware that the sound is not actually getting louder. Instead, it just seems that way because at night you are in a quieter environment. 

This can lead to difficulty getting to sleep or getting a good night of rest. The good news is that once you do fall asleep your tinnitus is unlikely to wake you up or disturb you. So, it’s just a matter of finding the relief you need and gaining the serenity to fall asleep. 

Hearing changes

A final change that you need to be aware of when experiencing tinnitus is changes to your hearing. It’s possible and indeed likely that you will experience hearing loss at the same time. However, it’s worth noting that this is not always the case. Tinnitus can develop without any form of hearing loss at all. It depends on the individual and their unique condition. 

However, even if an individual is not experiencing hearing loss, they could still find it more difficult to hear due to their tinnitus. The reason for this is that tinnitus acts as a distraction so it’s more difficult to focus on important sounds such as speech. 

As such people with tinnitus can experience challenges when communicating directly with people around them. This is particularly true in loud environments because the tinnitus can seem more prevalent than usual in these types of situations. 

Tackling the impacts of tinnitus 

There are numerous ways to address the issues that people experience due to tinnitus. For instance, it’s possible to get hearing aids with masking technology from an audiologist. As the name suggests, this will block out the noise from tinnitus by transmitting another noise at the same frequency. It’s also possible that you can use a sound box. 

Boxes like this can transmit noises at a similar frequency that are more calming, soothing or welcome compared to the one heard due to tinnitus. It may be beneficial when trying to get a good night of rest. 

Alternatively, it’s also worth exploring tinnitus retraining therapy. With this option, you can train your brain to recognize tinnitus as a sound that should not reach the conscious level of thought. This can stop the sound from being heard at a conscious level, similar to the ticking of a clock. While we can technically hear the noise from a clock, we don’t focus on it because our brain understands it is not relevant or important. 

We hope this helps you understand how tinnitus can impact your life. To learn more about Hearing Aid Consultants of North Mississippi call at (662) 234-1337. They will provide additional advice and support.