New Study Shows that 1 in 10 Adults Suffer from Tinnitus in the US

Do you ever find yourself finally in your cozy bed after a long day, only to be confronted with a ringing in your ears? If this is you, then you are suffering from tinnitus, a condition that affects About 10 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 50 million people in the United States. For the majority of people, tinnitus will come and go however, nearly 20 million people suffer from chronic tinnitus, according to the American Tinnitus Association while around two million cases are debilitating. To better understand the far-reaching effects of tinnitus, a recent study from the University of California Irvine shared a new understanding of just how common tinnitus is.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a phantom sound heard often without external stimuli. It may take several forms, commonly described as a ringing sensation, however, others experience a roar, a hum, swoosh, buzz, or even phantom music. When it arrives, it can often be distracting and frustrating, raising stress levels, interrupting concentration, and even causing issues with sleep.

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

If you’ve ever left a loud concert, movie, or fireworks show with ringing in your ears, this is a sign of tinnitus. It also indicates that you’ve sustained some degree of noise-induced hearing loss. While not everyone with hearing loss has tinnitus, 90% of all people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. While no one claims to fully understand what causes tinnitus, a popular theory relies on damage to the auditory system as the major cause. We collect sound with our ears; however, hearing happens in the brain. 

Tiny hair cells within the inner ear are the sole delivery system for audio signals to reach the brain. However, when sounds reach a safe listening threshold, they can damage these cells, causing them to vibrate severe enough to shatter against the membrane wall which holds them and causing a lifetime of hearing damage. It is believed that when these cells are damaged, they can sometimes cause feedback to the brain which many perceive as the symptoms of tinnitus.

A Study on the Prevalence of Tinnitus

A study from the University of California Irvine reports that approximately one in every ten people in the United States has experienced tinnitus in just 2018! They compiled data from over 75,000 adult subjects, which revealed that approximately 9.6% or 21.4 million people experienced tinnitus. They also reported on the frequency in which people suffered from tinnitus. Out of the respondents with tinnitus, over one-third (36%) experienced tinnitus constantly while over one quarter (27%) reported having dealt with tinnitus for 15 years or longer.

The Problem with Tinnitus

It’s easy to mistake tinnitus as a simple humming in the ears. While for many it comes and then dissipates many people find it distracting and anxiety-inducing, and the severity can vary. In the UC Irvine study, participants with tinnitus were asked to describe the intensity of the condition.  Approximately 7% described their tinnitus as a major problem while over 40 percent described their tinnitus as a minor health concern. Around half of the study, participants found that their tinnitus was significant enough to discuss their symptoms with their physician. 

Treating Tinnitus

Like hearing loss, there is no cure for tinnitus however there are several different avenues for treating the condition. The best treatment varies depending on the severity and regularity of your symptoms. Many find success with masking the sound as they fall asleep. Hearing aid users can opt to add tinnitus masking features to cover the sound of tinnitus throughout the day so they can concentrate on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, others have turned to holistic methods. Because stress often makes tinnitus more pronounced in consciousness, many find that relieving stress through meditation, yoga, exercise, and acupuncture can lessen symptoms and remove them from the center of consciousness. Others find that by using the conversational therapy method, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) a therapist can guide a person suffering from tinnitus to deescalate their stress response when symptoms appear.

Treat Your Hearing Loss

If you are suffering from tinnitus there is a good chance that you have some degree of hearing loss. The sooner you address a loss the more of a chance you have of avoiding some of the risks associated with symptoms, such as depression, a strain in relationships, cognitive decline, and even dementia. Don’t let it get to that point. Schedule a hearing exam with us today!