Have you ever attended a rock concert, sports event, or maybe a fireworks display, and when you left your ears were ringing? Usually, the ringing goes away in a day or two, but some people develop chronic tinnitus, where the sound lingers for years, or even for the rest of their lives.

Tinnitus is a common health concern for Americans, affecting some 14% of the population. It is also the most common health problem affecting veterans returning from active duty while hearing loss is the 2nd most common. Tinnitus doesn’t only appear as a “ringing” sound, but could also show up as a buzzing, clicking, or chainsaw-like sound. While tinnitus is usually accompanied by hearing loss, it commonly appears in people with otherwise normal hearing, as well.

Study Links Chronic Tinnitus to Anxiety & Depression

The Department of Otolaryngology at Catholic University in Rome published a study in the April 2017 International Tinnitus Journal. The study was designed to see if depression and/or anxiety were more common in those who experience chronic tinnitus, and they are. Those with tinnitus reported depression at a rate of 26.3%, and anxiety at 45%. In the general population, about 6.7% of people experience depression, and 18.1% experience anxiety. This means that chronic tinnitus nearly quadruples the likelihood of depression, and makes one 2.5 times more likely to have anxiety.

While it seems that a slim majority of people are not bothered by their tinnitus, a very significant portion do suffer from mental health issues as a result. The more severe a person’s tinnitus, the more likely it will be to disrupt their life, as we would expect. Some people only notice tinnitus in the quietest moments, while others are barely able to hold a conversation because they are so distracted by their tinnitus.

When To See Your Doctor About Tinnitus

You should visit your doctor if you have persistent tinnitus that bothers you. Sometimes tinnitus can be caused by TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders or other mechanical anomalies in the head and neck. Caffeine can exacerbate tinnitus, as can stress. Certain medications—both prescription and over-the-counter—can also cause tinnitus. If your tinnitus bothers you, your doctor may be able to help or point you to a specialist who can help discover the underlying cause.

In most cases, a specific underlying cause of tinnitus is never discovered. There are a few techniques for managing tinnitus, but the most successful for most people is “masking.”

Masking

William Shatner, who acquired chronic tinnitus after an accidental explosion on the set of Star Trek, has noted that masking is the only way he ever gets any relief. Masking is, quite simply, introducing sound into your environment to cover up the sound of your tinnitus.

Masking can be especially beneficial at night when it is quiet and you are trying to sleep. During the day, there may naturally be enough sound present to mask your tinnitus.

Everyone has their preferred method of masking. Some people run a box fan in the room, others may use a white noise generator or an app that plays nature sounds. Some people even play familiar episodes of TV shows to drown out the noise and distract themselves.

Meditation

For some people, tinnitus will not go away. If you have debilitating tinnitus that will not subside, the situation may seem dire, yet many people have seen overwhelmingly positive results thanks to meditation. This practice is usually guided by a doctor experienced in the alleviation of tinnitus symptoms. The idea is to become more comfortable with your tinnitus, rather than seeing it as an enemy. In a relatively short amount of time, people have used meditation to see their tinnitus as more friend than foe and to live happily with it.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are not recommended for tinnitus alone, but tinnitus and hearing loss often go hand in hand. If you have both tinnitus and hearing loss, hearing aids can help a great deal with tinnitus. Hearing aids increase the volume of ambient sounds, helping to naturally mask tinnitus while they are worn.

Many hearing aids also have built-in tinnitus masking features. Widex’s ZEN app, for example, contains sounds to help relieve anxiety, mask tinnitus, and aid with sleep.

If you or a loved one is having issues with tinnitus and/or hearing loss, make an appointment for a hearing test today and start your journey toward better hearing health!