Many people wonder: Can tinnitus become louder? How does it occur? How to treat it?
And although it all depends on the individual case, most often you can get rid of it by following some standard recommendations…
Thanks to modern methods of treatment, you can lead a normal life, regardless of tinnitus…
Table of Contents
Why Does Tinnitus Come and Go?
Tinnitus is heard in the ears, it occurs in the nerve circuits of the brain, because of which we begin to hear sounds in the head.
It is not yet known exactly what is going on in the brain to create the illusion of a sound that is not actually there.
Tinnitus is the most common disorder affecting 10 to 15% of the world’s population.
There are two theories of tinnitus origin.
1) Due to the constant high level of noise in the life of a city dweller, cells in the inner ear are constantly dying, turning sounds into nerve impulses.
They do not die immediately, but for some time they are in a “death” state.
They can still send information to the brain,but are no longer able to generate impulses specific to each sound. The result is “noise”.
2) According to another theory, tinnitus is something like phantom pains.
The auditory cortex of the brain “remembers” that information about external sounds should be transmitted through the auditory pathways, but the corresponding auditory cells have already died, and the brain “has to” find information that is similar to sound impulses.
This information travels along pathways through the mood center, which is why tinnitus sufferers have such a hard time with noise.
Gradually, as a result of incorrect adaptation, this path becomes the main one for the brain, and the person, as it were, gets used to hearing noise.
Does Tinnitus Come and Go or Is It Constant?
Tinnitus is a very annoying problem. Many do not notice it all the time, but still feel the effects of tinnitus in their daily lives.
The human brain effectively filters noise. However, this process requires a lot of effort, and it is quite possible that by the end of the day you will feel like a squeezed lemon.
Constantly ignoring tinnitus can make you feel tired and irritated. You may not even realize you have tinnitus
In most cases, noise in the ears and in the head appears unexpectedly and passes without a trace without the use of any therapeutic agents.
Although if it is associated with the consequences of injury or illness (for example, a blow to the head or cardiovascular pathologies), tinnitus may remain for a long time.
Therefore, if such a phenomenon begins to be observed regularly, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Self-medication is ineffective and can lead to aggravation of the disease…
Why Is Tinnitus Louder Some Days?
For each person, the depth, pitch and tone of the sound can vary.
The sound may also come and go, get louder and quieter, and interfere with your ability to hear clearly. Sometimes you can easily ignore the sound, and sometimes it can be extremely difficult to concentrate.
Tinnitus can lead to mental fatigue, brain fog, insomnia and frustration.
People with tinnitus find it difficult to remain in silence – they become anxious when the background noise disappears.
It happens because the most common causes of tinnitus are a vascular and muscular pathology.
Muscular and vascular noises have quite characteristic features.
Vascular noises are constant, synchronous with the pulse, and change their intensity (up to disappearance) when the vessels are squeezed.
Changing the position of the head (body) can lead to a change in intensity, the appearance or disappearance of noise.
An increase in vascular murmur is often observed with an increase in blood pressure.
Why Has My Tinnitus Suddenly Got Worse?
Regular exposure to loud noise in professional activities (airport workers, factories, construction sites, city transport drivers, military, hunters) leads tinnitus to get worse.
Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, foods and drinks containing caffeine can cause tinnitus.
Frequent fatigue and stress can also provoke worse tinnitus.
Hearing loss due to aging is called presbycusis and begins at age 60. The greater the hearing loss, the more likely it is that tinnitus will occur.
Some Medicines can also cause worse tinnitus, the most common medicines that cause tinnitus are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ones: (eg, aspirin, gentamicin), diuretics, some antibiotics, and medicine for cancer.
If your tinnitus is loud and pulsating then, this may be due to abnormalities in the functioning of the blood vessels.
Loud tinnitus often occurs temporarily after intense exertion, including noise exposure. If this stress stops and the person has the opportunity to relax in silence, then tinnitus disappears.
According to statistics, 80-85% of patients suffering from tinnitus later can have a hearing loss.
Despite the fact that tinnitus is not the cause of hearing impairment, its impact negatively affects concentration, performance, because consonant sounds in the head are distracting and prevent you from concentrating on really important sound information.
Annoying noise distracts from daily tasks and interferes with meaningful communication with family, friends and loved ones.
How Can I Make My Tinnitus Quieter?
Noise or ringing in the ears or head often cannot be treated, but the good news is that tinnitus can be controlled, and you can make it quieter.
The latest technological solutions in the field of audiology and deafness come to the rescue.
Clinical studies show that digital hearing aids are not only effective in addressing hearing loss, but also help reduce the impact of tinnitus and provide overall relief.
Amplification of environmental sounds through the hearing aid provides activation of the auditory part of the nervous system, which reduces the perception of tinnitus.
With constant exposure to amplified environmental sounds, the auditory part of the nervous system is rebuilt, which has a beneficial effect on the function of nervous activity, restoring it and weakening hypersensitivity to auditory sensations.
Since tinnitus is a purely subjective sensation, it is difficult to diagnose it, there are more recommendations of audiologists on your own will help alleviate the condition:
- Refrain from the use of tobacco, coffee.
- Learn how to relax, arrange relaxation minutes for yourself.
- Try to control your blood pressure, measure it regularly.
- Avoid strong noise sources and use earplugs for professional protection.
- Try to use less salt, because its use is one of the causes of circulatory disorders.
- Exercising regularly, playing sports improves blood circulation, which helps to reduce tinnitus.
FAQ
Can There be Сomplications From Tinnitus?
Yes, they can manifest themselves in the form of sleep disturbances, depressive disorders. Therefore, it is imperative to consult a doctor in order to eliminate the cause of the disease, and not fight its consequences.
Why Does My Tinnitus Get Louder at Night?
Usually, Tinnitus becomes noticeable in the evening, at night, when it is quiet around and you can concentrate on sensations.
It occurs due to the fact that the blood, moving through the blood vessels in the ear area, hits their walls – a quiet hum is obtained that can be heard from one side or the other.
Does Lying Down Make Tinnitus Worse?
Changing the position of the head (body) can lead to a change in tinnitus intensity, or disappearance of noise. An increase in vascular murmur is often observed with an increase in blood pressure.
Can Tinnitus Suddenly Stop?
Usually, tinnitus can stop suddenly.
Tinnitus lasts for a long time (more than 5 minutes) and should be distinguished from a short, transient sound that lasts a few seconds or occurs after a strong sound stimulus.
