Our sense of hearing is the most social sensory faculty. With the ability to perceive sounds and process the message (thanks to our brain), we are able to give our natural spontaneous response or reaction to what is heard. For instance, when conversing, one has to listen so as to give a reply. We enjoy music because we are able to hear all the musical elements put into the music. We feel relaxed when listening to the nature’s sounds.
Aside from the instances given above, we can benefit from our sense of hearing in different ways. Our capacity to hear and listen molds and transforms the manner on how we interact and relate with the world. With every way our sense of hearing can impact our day-to-day living as well as our overall health and wellbeing, it is vital that we take measures to safeguard our ear health and hearing. If we care less about our sense of hearing and disregard the health of our ears, we can cause damage to it and lose our hearing. Once we lose our ability to hear, we lose it for good.
What Is That Ringing Sound In My Ear – 10-Signs-That-Your-Tinnitus-Is-Going-Away
Constant exposure to loud sounds or noise, earwax buildup, ear infections, extreme trauma or stress, or a bump to the head can result in tinnitus. Tinnitus is the term used to depict sound heard in the ear. Many refer to it as “ringing inside the ear” because the noise heard is described as a ringing sound. However, others may also hear a buzzing, hissing, or whistling sound.
One detail about tinnitus that makes it bizarre is that the sound does not stem from any source in the outside environment and other people don’t hear what you hear. Because of this, tinnitus sounds are at times called phantom sounds. However, many doctors believe that the ringing sound is because of disconnection or discord between the ear receiving sounds and the brain processing it. But, they still have to prove this and understand why it happens.
Tinnitus is more prevalent in older adults and can differ from person to person. Some hear endless ringing, while others are erratic. Some are soft, others are loud. Some cases of tinnitus are temporary, which means it can disappear over time. Unfortunately, for permanent tinnitus, you’ll never hear the end of it.
Depending on its severity, tinnitus can intervene with hearing as it obstructs external sounds, making it difficult for you to listen clearly to what people are saying or what sounds you are hearing in your surroundings. In serious cases, tinnitus can impair focus and concentration, cause frustration, anxiety, stress, and even depression. Basically, it affects one’s everyday living and scales down quality of life.
Tinnitus may be treated, provided that your doctor is able to accurately pinpoint its cause. This is because tinnitus is not a diagnosis; it is not a condition or an illness. It is instead a symptom, an indicator or a sign that there is an underlying condition or problem talk into your tinnitus. So, to treat tinnitus, you have to address the underlying problem. While an underlying problem can cause tinnitus, there are other factors that raise the risk of tinnitus. This includes:
- Constant exposure to loud sounds or noise
- Accumulation of excess earwax
- Ear infections
- Extreme trauma or stress
- Bump or injury to the head, neck, or ear
- Hearing loss due to age
- Certain medications
Protecting Your Hearing and Maintaining Ear Health
Many times, we undervalue our ears and think too little of our ear health. Perhaps the only time we check up on our ears is when something is wrong with our hearing. Our sense of hearing plays a vital role in numerous facets of our lives. So, it is essential that we maintain its cleanliness and health. Taking care of our ears isn’t a grueling task. In fact, there are simple ways to maintain ear health and safeguard our hearing.
- Don’t poke or dig around the inside of your ears.
- Wash the visible areas of your ear using soap and water to keep it clean. Cotton swabs are not recommended since you can push earwax further inside your ear, blocking and damaging your eardrums.
- Keep ears dry
- Tone down the sounds when using headphones or earphones.
- Stay away from prolonged exposure to loud noises. Wear earplugs if unavoidable and possible.
- Have them checked regularly.
- Ease and manage stress. Extreme stress can result in tinnitus.
- When taking medications, use as directed.
- Know the indicators of hearing damage
- Maintain good physical health.