Tinnitus is a variety of sounds people hear internally — such as ringing, clicking, buzzing, hissing, thumping, whooshing, roaring, or even rhythmical tones and melodies — without an accompanying external source.
The sound or sounds may be heard in one or both ears, intensities and volume can be the same or different in each of the ears, can be hard or soft, intermittent or continuous. Moreover, tinnitus sounds different for each different individual, although common descriptions include the sound of crickets, a high-pitched squeal, or humming of an air-conditioning unit or refrigerator.
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While almost everyone experiences a kind of faint tinnitus in an entirely quiet room, the affliction becomes problematic when it interferes with normal hearing or concentration ability, and/or creates stress, which can trigger additional issues.
In any case, tinnitus is an affliction that can result from an enormous variety of underlying causes, both present in the auditory system or in other bodily systems.
Some of the causes are hearing damage,noise-induced hearing loss, or age-related hearing loss, but other conditions such as ear infections, heart or blood vessel disease, brain tumors, temporomandibular joint disorders, neck and shoulder tensions, migraines, certain medications, a previous head injury, and/or earwax may also be the cause.
In addition, tinnitus may also be accompanied by hyperacusis, which is an affliction that presents itself as an increased sensitivity to sound(s).
Although tinnitus is typically associated with physical causes and malfunctions, these physical issues may be the result of underlying emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. For instance, emotional issues may cause tensions and constrictions in the jaw, neck, shoulders, or head and press on nerves, by which tinnitus actually becomes a psychosomatic disorder, also known as somatic tinnitus.
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In the case of somatic tinnitus, it’s common that the intensity i.e., loudness of tinnitus alters if a person makes certain changes to the position of their shoulders, neck, head, or jaw. In fact, most health professionals look for these signs to diagnose tinnitus as somatic tinnitus.
At any rate, treatment of tinnitus depends on the specific underlying cause, and you’ll find a broad variety of techniques, methods, and specific interventions to cure (if possible) or at least manage the affliction.
By the way, tinnitus should not be confused with auditory hallucinations, which is often known as “hearing voices” or “hearing music,” and is thought to result from mental disorders and psychological trauma, among other — sometimes physical — causes. However, some physical or neurological dysfunctions may cause both tinnitus and auditory hallucinations.
