Tinnitus What Is It

Understand What Tinnitus Really Is and How To Overcome It

Monthly Archives: July 2012

Very Loud Ringing In Ears – Loud Music And Other Recreational Noise

Very Loud Ringing In Ears

The decibel levels at many nightclubs, pop, jazz and rock concerts would be illegal if they occurred at places of work, as you can see from the list of the decibel scores of different sources of noise given earlier. It's unfortunate that, until recently, no regulations applied to the leisure industry as, if they had, there would be far less tinnitus and hearing loss resulting from this cause.

 

It was a strange state of affairs, though, that, until recently, employees at nightclubs were more protected than the customers they were there to serve and please. Thankfully, the 2006 noise regulations apply as much to the entertainment industry as they do to the workplace, the former of which, interestingly, tried to exempt itself and failed. The entertainment industry has until the end of 2007 to comply. I imagine that audiences and those who like going to such clubs will kick up a fuss when they realize just how much the volume at their entertainment venues will need to be reduced. Continue reading →

Occasional Ringing In Ear – Safe Levels Of Noise For Children

Occasional Ringing In Ear

The decibel level of children's toys is supposed to be controlled by government legislation. For instance, a toy mobile phone, which is meant to be held to a child's ear, must not reach volumes in excess of 75 decibels – this being the 'safe' limit for the vulnerable ears of children. Alarmingly, however, measuring the sounds of seemingly harmless children's toys revealed that the following decibel levels were reached:

  • toy drum – 122 decibels;
  • rattle – 110 decibels;
  • toy xylophone – 129 decibels;
  • toy trumpet – 95 decibels;

Common Causes Of Tinnitus – The Causes Of Tinnitus

Common Causes Of Tinnitus

What causes tinnitus is a subject attracting a great deal of scientific debate. In fact, it would appear that there are several causes. While many long-term sufferers will have never experienced any of them and the root cause remains a mystery, the latest scientific research strongly suggests that most cases of tinnitus are initially caused by an ear problem. New types of therapy – tinnitus retraining therapy, for example – are therefore focused on training the brain to become accustomed to the noise. Such therapy is highly successful.

 

Exposure to noise

It is an indisputable fact that long-term exposure to a loud noise or noises can cause tinnitus – it can cause hearing loss, too. Scientists are not yet fully cognizant of the exact mechanism by which noise damage occurs, but it is thought that repeated exposure to high-intensity sounds cause overstimulation of the tiny hair cells in the inner ear – that the violent sound waves effectively batter them around, weakening their structure and resulting, eventually, in their disintegration. Continue reading →

Does Tinnitus Get Worse – Musical Hallucinations

Does Tinnitus Get Worse

Although not formally classed as tinnitus, other head sounds are equally capable of disturbing and distressing people. These sounds are musical in nature and the sequence of notes or sung words is heard very clearly and appears strikingly like normal hearing. However, the sounds can be nothing more than hallucinations for no such external sounds are present. Musical hallucinations may either be a constant or intermittent replaying of:

  • a complete orchestral recital;
  • a complete solo instrumental;
  • jazz, pop, rock, opera, country music and so on – words as well as music;

Tinnitus From Loud Noise – Hypersensitivity To Sounds

Tinnitus From Loud Noise

It's estimated that a massive 40-45 per cent of the tinnitus population experience discomfort on hearing moderately loud sounds. A much smaller percentage are ultra sensitive to sounds that the ear is normally able to tolerate – a condition termed hyperacuis. These 'everyday' sounds may include a dog barking down the street, high heels tapping on a hard floor, the clatter of teacups in the sink and rain beating against a windowpane.

 

In hyperacusis, listening to the sounds of the world does not distract the person from his or her tinnitus as it might for a person who doesn't have hyperacusis. Someone with hyperacusis will find noise from a vacuum cleaner, loud music, carpentry and construction work extremely painful to listen to. Moreover, the condition can be accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, severely disturbed sleep, difficulty in concentrating, anxiety, depression and social withdrawal. Continue reading →