If you’re reading this article you probably have a better understanding of tinnitus than the majority of people, since many haven’t even heard of this medical term. Even those who are familiar with it may be bombarded with myths and misinformation. Here we highlight the top six myths that surround tinnitus, which is commonly misspelled as tinitus, tinnitis, or tinitus, for starters. With a clearer understanding of tinnitus your chances are much greater for reducing or even eliminating its symptoms.
Separating Truth From Myth:
1. Myth: Tinnitus is a disease.
Truth: While by definition tinnitus could be called a disease, it’s important to note that it really is more of a condition or symptoms of an underlying problem. The reason it’s important to distinguish tinnitus this way is that unlike some diseases, your tinnitus could be resulting from something as simple as Swimmer’s Ear. Even if it were something more complex, with proper diagnosis of its root cause or causes, there is a good chance of improving and potentially even eliminating your tinnitus symptoms.
2. Myth: Tinnitus is a symptom of a serious illness.
Truth: While tinnitus has over a dozen possible causes, most cases of tinnitus are not symptoms of a serious illness. If you experience symptoms that don’t go away, or that are part of another illness, it is very important to get a checkup. The reason for this is that your doctor screen for potential immediate concerns, and can then refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist (ENT), who can help you in narrowing down any potential co-factors.
3. Myth: Tinnitus will make you crazy.
Truth: People experiencing tinnitus over a long period of time have understandably been known to suffer emotional distress, and as a result, may seek help from a therapist. While seeking help doesn’t mean someone is crazy, one reason this myth exists is that friends of a tinnitus patient may not understand that for all of us, noises are actually heard in the brain. With tinnitus the hearing simply gets stuck, being played like a loop on a tape. Therefore, loved ones may erroneously think the patient is schizophrenic because they think the noises are imaginary, when this is simply not the case. White noise, hypnotherapy and regression therapy can often help in this situation.
4. Myth: Having tinnitus means you are going deaf, or it is causing you to go deaf.
Truth: About 90% of people who have tinnitus do have some level of hearing damage. Also, although tinnitus can be a symptom of hearing loss, many people with tinnitus have normal hearing – just as many people with hearing loss don’t have tinnitus. In any case, having tinnitus does not mean you’re going deaf. An ENT specialist or audiologist can help clear up any questions on this for you.
5. Myth: Tinnitus usually disappears by itself.
Truth: This depends on the potential hearing damage you have. Since hearing damage is often the primary cause of tinnitus, if you have ringing in the ears due to short-term noise exposure – for example, after going to firing range – it might go away within a week. However, if you have symptoms that last for longer than a few weeks or months, there is a strong possibility that your tinnitus may be long-term. In this case it is wise to schedule an exam with your physician.
6. Myth: There is no cure for tinnitus.
Truth: Unfortunately, there is currently no drug that can make tinnitus go away. Even surgery has a mixed success rate at curing tinnitus, since tinnitus is usually a symptom of something else that needs healing in the body. The good news, however, is there are many ways you can manage and minimize your tinnitus symptoms. If you are committed to uncovering all possible causes, you may be able eliminate your symptoms for good, depending on any potential hearing damage. For those cases that are more treatable, it takes about 1-6 weeks to reduce symptoms, and 6 months to 2 years to eliminate tinnitus.
We believe that the more informed you are about tinnitus, the greater your chances are of success in effectively managing, reducing or even eliminating its symptoms, improving your quality of life and your relationships.
