Tinnitus: Did You Say Something?

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Hearing is a precious asset, and hearing loss is one of the most common conditions for adults as they age. Tinnitus, the perception of sound when there is no external source, is a very common condition that affects 10 to 15 percent of people and has no cure at present. Generally speaking, there are two types of tinnitus: Subjective Tinnitus and Objective Tinnitus.

  • Subjective Tinnitus is tinnitus that only the affected person can hear. This is the most common type of tinnitus.
  • Objective Tinnitus is a rare type of tinnitus that your doctor can hear during an examination. This type of tinnitus may be caused by a blood vessel problem or ear muscle contractions.

There are also subtypes of tinnitus:

  • Somatic or Somatosensory Tinnitus is when tinnitus changes in pitch, volume or location, or the type of sound you hear changes when you move your head, neck, jaw or face. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders and other dental issues like bruxism or malocclusion, along with cervical, spinal and head injuries, and even muscle tightness, are causes of somatic tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus is present in 65 to 80 percent of people with tinnitus.
  • Cochlear Tinnitus occurs when something affects the health of the ear resulting in abnormal neural activity in the cochlea, leading to the perception of tinnitus. Hearing loss, noise exposure, ototoxic medications, ear diseases, and medical conditions like diabetes and cardiac issues are common causes of cochlear tinnitus.
  • Central Tinnitus is caused by abnormal patterns of spontaneous activity in the auditory brain center. This activity typically begins when tinnitus has become a chronic condition. Once this occurs, the brain starts to react to the presence of somatic and cochlear tinnitus. These changes begin to occur as soon as 12 weeks (about three months) after the start of tinnitus.

Hearing loss is classified as sensorineural, conductive, or a combination of both. Approximately 90 to 95 percent of all hearing loss is sensorineural, making it the most common type of hearing loss. It can be treated with a hearing aid. People afflicted with this type of hearing loss often have their televisions too loud or ask others to repeat themselves. This type of hearing loss may also affect the ability to understand speech, especially within noisy environments. If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms, it may be time to be tested.

The Medical Center’s Visiting Specialist program offers audiology services provided by Daisy Elwick, Au.D., and Monica Taggart, Au.D. Both are affiliated with Kendall Audiology and Hearing Aid Center in Miami and are credentialed by the American Academy of Audiology. Ms. Taggart is also a Certified Tinnitus Specialist. Visit their pages to make an appointment or call the Medical Center at 305-367-2600.

Information source: Neuromod Devices Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland, manufacturers of the Lenire tinnitus treatment device.