Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing or clicking sound in your ears that isn’t attributed to any external source and cannot be heard from the outside. Hyperacusis is a heightened sensitivity to sounds in the environment that others tolerate or do not notice.
Tinnitus and hyperacusis can exist either independently or together. Let’s examine why they might be connected and how you can manage them.
What Is the Connection?
A study on the connection between the two found that nearly half of people with tinnitus report some degree of hyperacusis, and most people with hyperacusis report experiencing tinnitus. The study posited that the link between the two is that both tinnitus and hyperacusis can result from the central auditory system’s compensatory responses to reduced peripheral input from either overt or hidden hearing loss.
When the central auditory system is not stimulated, it may compensate by becoming hyperactive and causing the symptoms of hyperacuity and tinnitus. Essentially, the brain overreacts to an absence of input by creating the severe noises those with hyperacuity and tinnitus experience.
How Can Hyperacusis and Tinnitus Be Managed?
With hyperacusis, the negative physiologic and emotional responses to sound can be strong enough to cause a person to avoid interactions and situations that may exacerbate the condition. Avoiding interactions that aggravate hyperacusis can have a detrimental effect on a person’s life. Treatment may include one or more of the following:
- Sound therapy. Therapy is used to retrain the brain to accept the sounds it has an adverse reaction to.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Therapy is focused on changing the negative reactions to a sound and regaining control over the condition.
- Hearing protection. Protection such as earplugs or earmuffs may be recommended to lessen the discomfort of hyperacusis when the sound cannot be avoided.
Tinnitus often has no identifiable cause. In cases where a root cause, such as blood pressure medication or hearing loss, is identified, a management plan will begin by treating the underlying condition. If no cause is found, the plan is mainly focused on symptom management and may include but is not limited to the following:
- Hearing aids. Hearing aids manage tinnitus through masking. They will amplify external sounds or transmit white noise to block out the internal ringing, clicking or buzzing in your ears.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Similar to treating hyperacusis, tinnitus CBT focuses on changing the negative reactions to the internal noise and treating emotional symptoms that may accompany it.
For more information on managing your hearing conditions, contact Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.