How to Recognize the First Signs of Tinnitus

You might be someone that has heard of tinnitus, or perhaps you are experiencing the first signs and wondering just what it is. No matter the reason you’re researching it, it’s important to know that tinnitus is something that can affect anyone, at any time. If you have recently begun to hear a ringing in your ears or started to experience a loss of hearing, this could be the cause.

While it is more common in those that work in professions where they are constantly surrounded by loud noise, it’s not just limited to this. Here, we’ve put together a guide on how to recognize the first signs of tinnitus so you can get help as soon as you suspect it to stop it getting any worse.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss tends to be one of the first signs that you might have tinnitus. If you suddenly notice that your hearing isn’t so good in either one or both of your ears, this might be the cause. Perhaps you find yourself asking others to speak louder, you keep having to ask people to repeat themselves or you are having to have the TV volume on a higher number. Hearing loss can come as a shock which is why it is better to get it looked at sooner rather than later.

Ringing in Your Ears

When you are somewhere quiet, you might find that you have a ringing or buzzing in your ear. This tends to be more pronounced when it is quiet, but you might be able to hear it all the time. It could come and go or it might be there all the time.

You Hear Music Although Nothing Is Playing

There is a type of tinnitus which causes musical hallucinations, and this can present itself as hearing music when it’s not playing. This can be disconcerting as you might think you can hear something that isn’t there. This could in fact be tinnitus.

What Are the Main Types of Tinnitus?

When it comes to identifying the tinnitus that you have, there are two main types you might be diagnosed with. These two types are subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus.

What is Subjective Tinnitus?

Subjective tinnitus is the type that is most commonly found and tends to be as a result of damage to either the inner, outer or middle ear. Subjective tinnitus manifests as hearing loss or sounds such as buzzing, clicking, roaring or ringing.

What is Objective Tinnitus?

Objective tinnitus is a much less common type of tinnitus and tends to be caused by something specific such as drug use or Meniere’s disease. It can be defined by a ringing, clicking, roaring or buzzing and manifests itself suddenly.

What Health Conditions Can Be Linked to Tinnitus?

There are a few medical conditions that can be linked to tinnitus, including:

• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
• Foreign objects that have got stuck in the ear
• Too much earwax in your ear canal
• Allergies that can cause your eustachian tube
• Otosclerosis
• Vestibular schwannoma which is a benign tumor that affects your balance, hearing and nerves.

How Can Tinnitus Be Prevented?

There are a few things that can help you to prevent tinnitus. Keeping your hearing protected at all times. While you may think your ears are kept away from loud sounds, you might not be aware how your hearing is being damaged.

If you work somewhere such as a construction site or around loud machines, it can impact your hearing. To protect your ears, make sure to always wear earplugs or headphones and avoid being too near to loud noises.

Staying away from speakers at events such as concerts, gym classes or movie theatres can help to keep your ears safe and secure. Don’t listen to your music too loud. When you have your headphones in, be sure to keep the volume as low as possible.

These are just a few ways that you can recognize the first signs of tinnitus. By identifying them sooner rather than later and keeping your ears protected you can help to manage the symptoms and get them under control. If you find that you have symptoms of tinnitus, please get in touch with us at the Advanced Hearing of Brighton and we can help you out. You can find our details on our website or get in touch with us at 810-355-2245.