About 15 percent of the world’s population has tinnitus and yet, there is a lot of misinformation out there about what tinnitus is and what it isn’t. It is a condition that is characterised by a ringing sound perceived even though there is no external sound present. Tinnitus is most often associated with hearing loss which stands to reason as more than 70 percent of hearing impaired individuals have experienced tinnitus at some point in their lives.
Myth: Tinnitus must always be a “ringing” sound in the ears
Fact: Tinnitus manifests as different sounds for different people
It is a common myth that tinnitus is ONLY a ringing sound that is perceived but is not present in the external environment. However, people with tinnitus can also hear a buzzing sound, a constant clicking, whistling, and hissing. Among highly rare cases, people have reportedly heard music in their ears!
Myth: Tinnitus is a disorder
Fact: Tinnitus is not a disease or a disorder. It could be a symptom of a health issue.
Tinnitus is actually a perception of sound when there is no real external sound present. It is a signal that your auditory system is not working as well as it should be.
This particular condition is triggered by various reasons such as hearing loss due to loud noise or old age, blockage in the ear due to earwax, infection in the middle ear, congestion in the nasal cavity, “ototoxic” medications which have been known to have an adverse effect on hearing abilities.
Let’s take a look at what happens to sound waves as they enter our ears! The inner ear sends electrical signals to the brain via the nerve cells present in the inner-ear. These nerve cells are extremely delicate. Strong inner-ear nerve cells send electrical signals to the brain which are then interpreted by the brain as “sound”. However, if these delicate nerves are damaged, they can perhaps “leak” meaningless electrical signals to the brain. Thus, the brain ends up interpreting these “leaky” signals as real sound.
Myth: People with tinnitus end up going deaf
Fact: Tinnitus and hearing loss are two separate conditions.
Just because a person has tinnitus does not mean that they are hard of hearing. At the same time, hearing loss need not be accompanied by the ringing sound that is characteristic of tinnitus. Statistics show that about 80 to 90 percent of tinnitus patients have evidence of hearing loss. However, tinnitus does not have to result in hearing loss if detected early and managed effectively.
Myth: Tinnitus is just in my head
Fact: Just because the experience of tinnitus or the buzzing/ringing sound in your ears is ONLY true for you, does not mean that it does not exist. More often than not, tinnitus patients choose to suffer silently since no one else can hear the ringing sound that is present in their ear and brain. It is vital that you take the necessary actions and begin managing your tinnitus condition. You can consult experts and take supplements that will help nourish the nerve cells in your inner ear which in turn will empower you to keep the debilitating effects of tinnitus at bay and enhance the quality of your life.
Myth: Hearing aids are unhelpful when it comes to tinnitus
Fact: Hearing aids can provide a much-needed relief to tinnitus patients
Hearing aids act as a way to hide the constant ringing sound in the ear by introducing more ambient noise. It improves the quality of life of people suffering from tinnitus. Helping tinnitus patients cope with tinnitus. There are other hearing aids which help block out the noise and can provide a much sought after relief against tinnitus.
Myth: There’s no way supplements can help in managing tinnitus
Fact: Research shows that tinnitus has actually been linked to Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies.
Vitamin B12 is a crucial component as it helps build myelin or the protective and insulating covering around the nerves. If a person has a deficiency of Vitamin B12, then it can hinder the functioning of the nerves in the ear. Studies have proven that tinnitus patients saw an improvement in their symptoms after taking part in a Vitamin B12 supplemental therapy.
Another vital vitamin that helps build up bone health including the internal ear bones is Vitamin D. Both Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D supplements can help you build up the necessary nutrients and boost your resistance against tinnitus.
Myth: Eating better will make my tinnitus disappear
Fact: Lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet can help in living with tinnitus in a better way but there is no food that can completely “cure” your tinnitus. There are some food items that can aggravate tinnitus such as sodium, alcohol, caffeine so it is best to remove these items from your diet. At the same time, take charge of your lifestyle and diet and implement different tinnitus management strategies such as avoid loud and noisy areas, use ear plugs, use hearing aids, and start taking supplements like Tranquil Ear and Tranquil Ear P.M. to cope with tinnitus in a better manner.