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Tinnitus: How Does It Relate to Your Hearing?
By Dr. Deborah Dempesy
Tinnitus, ringing and noises in the ears, is a common and aggravating problem that is often found when hearing loss is present. The cause of tinnitus (pronounced tin I’ tis or tin’ i tis) is not clearly known, but it is believed to be related to damage to the inner ear hair cells. Damage to the hair cells can cause hair cell breakage or weakness. This results in their “flopping,” sending false signals to the brain indicating that sounds are being heard.
Damage to the hair cells can be caused by exposure to loud sounds, or ototoxic substances.
Loud Sounds
Exposure to loud sounds can be a one-time event -- like an explosion or gun fire, or it can be repetitive, happening over time. Repetitive exposures can include, for example, noise from pneumatic tools or other manufacturing or construction equipment, frequent attendance at loud concerts, or often listening to IPods or MP3 players at a loud volume.
It is not surprising that people at high risk for tinnitus include construction workers, military veterans, hunters, music lovers, musicians, and IPod users.
Ototoxic Substances
Ototoxic means causing damage to the inner ear hair cells. Some ototoxic medications and chemical substances can cause tinnitus. Some examples of ototoxic medications are strong antibiotics, usually given by IV, chemotherapy, and large doses of aspirin. Ototoxic chemical substances can include alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
If You Experience Tinnitus
Constant tinnitus is something that needs to be evaluated by a Doctor of Audiology. Intermittent tinnitus is usually normal.
Constant tinnitus or tinnitus that interferes with sleep may be a symptom of hearing loss, noise exposure, or exposure to ototoxic substances. More rarely, it may be a sign of other pathology, especially if it is present only in one ear. Audiologic evaluation can rule out any possible pathology, such as “retrocochlear lesion” of the auditory nerve. This is usually a tiny, benign tumor that presses on the auditory (hearing) nerve. These are very rare but need to be monitored.
Things That Can Aggravate Tinnitus
1. Stress
2. Caffeine
3. Excessive aspirin use
4. Ototoxic medications (toxic to the inner ear)
How to Treat Tinnitus
1. Hearing aids if hearing loss is present
2. Reduce stress with exercise, biofeedback, acupuncture, meditation, or any relaxation techniques.
3. Exercise regularly under supervision of your doctor
4. Reduce caffeine intake
5. Reduce alcohol intake
6. Protect ears from loud noise – wear ear protection where needed.
7. Keep IPods and MP3 players at lower volume levels.
How to Find Out More
You may want to subscribe to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) at (800) 634-8978 or www.ata.org. ATA offers a bimonthly publication on useful research, technology and tips for managing tinnitus. In addition, they offer online support groups.
Also check out the ALL EARS HEARING CENTER web page at AllEarsHearing.net.
One Final Recommendation!
It is strongly recommended by the American Academy of Audiology that all high-risk candidates for tinnitus have a baseline audiologic evaluation. Also, people 50 or older should have a baseline audiologic evaluation.
Remember: Prevention is always better than the Cure!
Dr. Deborah Dempesy
Dr. Dempesy obtained her Masters in Audiology at Northwestern University in Evanston IL in 1982. She received her Doctorate in Audiology at the Salus University (previously known as The Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Audiology) in Pennsylvania in 2007. Dr. Dempesy worked with developmentally delayed hearing-impaired children in the Chicago area for two years from 1980-1982, moved back to her home state of Massachusetts and was Clinical Director of Audiology at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital for 14 years. She consulted, performing research with manufacturers of hearing devices and volunteered on the Massachusetts Infant Hearing Screening Task Force until a law was passed that required all infants to have their hearing screened before discharge from the hospital or birthing clinic.
Dr. Dempesy has been a board member of the Massachusetts Academy of Audiology, volunteering her time to continue quality education of audiologists in the Massachusetts area.
Recently Dr. Dempesy worked for a major hearing device manufacturer, providing training and education on new technology to audiologists in the New England area. The combination of these experiences gives her an exceptionally well-rounded perspective that she passes on to her patients.
In addition, Dr. Dempesy is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Tinnitus Association, Educational Audiology Association and the Aural Rehabilitation Association. She is licensed to practice as an audiologist in the state of Massachusetts.
Personally, Dr. Dempesy’s immediate family consists of her partner and 23 year old daughter. In her free time, Dr. Dempesy loves to ocean kayak, run, rock climb, hike, read, watch movies and spend time with her sisters, brother and parents in western Massachusetts.
All Ears Hearing Center, Inc.
59 Industrial Park
Plymouth, MA 02360
www.allearshearing.net
(508) 747-4055 (800) 649-4054 (617) 510-5254
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