6 Tinnitus Myths Debunked
If you’re reading this article you likely have a better understanding of tinnitus than most people, then again most people haven’t even heard the term tinnitus. Even those who are familiar with tinnitus are bombarded with myths and misinformation. I wanted to take a minute to break down and debunk the top six myths that surround tinnitus, which is commonly misspelled as tinitis, tinitus, or tinnitis, for starters.
Separating Tinnitus Truth From Myth:
1. Myth: Tinnitus is a disease.
Truth: According to Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of disease is, “The condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms.”
While by definition tinnitus could be called a disease, it’s important to note that it really is more of a condition or symptoms of an underlying problem. The reason it’s important to distinguish tinnitus this way, is that unlike some diseases, your tinnitus could be resulting from something as simple as Swimmer’s Ear. Even if it were something more complex such as a combination of hearing damage and food allergies the point is that if the root cause is found, there is a good chance of improving and potentially even eliminating your tinnitus symptoms.
2. Myth: Tinnitus is a symptom of a serious illness.
Truth: While tinnitus has a range of about 15 possible causes, this is largely not the case. If you experience symptoms of tinnitus it’s very important to get a checkup, since your doctor can refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist (ENT), who can confirm tinnitus for you, and help you narrow down its possible causes.
3. Myth: Tinnitus will make you crazy.
Truth: People experiencing moderate or severe tinnitus over a long period of time have understandably been known to suffer emotional distress, and as a result, may seek help from a therapist, especially if long-term, constant ringing, buzzing, whirring or chirping is present and the patient is unable to stop the noise.
One reason this myth exists is that the noises are actually in the brain, being played like a loop on a tape, but are not originating from the ears. Still, this does not mean the person is crazy, since all hearing occurs in the brain anyway. White noise, hypnotherapy and regression therapy can often help in this situation.
4. Myth: Having tinnitus means you are going deaf, or it is causing you to go deaf.
Truth: About 90% of people who have tinnitus do have some level of hearing damage. Also, although tinnitus can be a symptom of hearing loss, many people with tinnitus have normal hearing – just as many people with hearing loss don’t have tinnitus. In any case having tinnitus does not mean you’re going deaf. An ENT specialist or audiologist can help clear up any questions on this for you.
5. Myth: Tinnitus usually disappears by itself.
Truth: This depends on the potential hearing damage you have. Since hearing damage is often the primary cause of tinnitus, if you have ringing in the ears due to short-term noise exposure – for example, after going to firing range – it might go away within a week.
However, if you have symptoms that last for longer than a few weeks or months, there is a strong possibility that your tinnitus may be long-term. In this case it is wise to schedule your exam with your physician.
6. Myth: There is no cure for tinnitus.
Truth: Unfortunately, there is currently no drug that can make tinnitus go away. Even surgery has a mixed success rate at curing tinnitus, since tinnitus is usually a symptom of something else that needs healing in the body.
That said, there are lots of ways you can manage and minimize your tinnitus symptoms, and if you are committed to uncovering all possible causes, you may be able to rid yourself of tinnitus for good. Traditionally it takes about 1-6 weeks to reduce symptoms, and 6 months to 2 years to eliminate them depending on what your specific underlying causes are, and how they respond to treatment.
We believe that the more informed you are about tinnitus, the greater your chances are of success in effectively managing, reducing or even eliminating it. We have researched, read and reviewed the top home tinnitus treatments to save you time and assist you in selecting a product that will enhance your chances of success.
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