It rings, whistles or roars in your ears. Tinnitus manifests itself individually and in varying degrees. The difficulty is that the ringing in the ears - depending on the type - is only perceived by those affected. The origin of tinnitus is also still partly unexplained and yet the symptoms can have a major impact on quality of life.

The importance of prevention

The annoying ringing in the ears, which patients with tinnitus experience either intermittently or permanently, is sometimes even accompanied by a loss of hearing. The acute form can still be tolerated by those affected under certain circumstances. However, if the symptoms last longer and become chronic, they are often accompanied by concentration and sleep disorders and sometimes even depressive moods. It is therefore quite understandable that the quality of life decreases and those affected sometimes even perceive the tinnitus as a disability if it is severe and protracted.

This makes it all the more important to question your own habits and activities in everyday life and to take preventative action to avoid the development of tinnitus as far as possible. But what factors can trigger the annoying noises in the ear?

Tinnitus: recognizing the causes

The exact mechanisms for the development of so-called "subjective tinnitus" - the name given by experts to the noises in the ear that are only perceived by those affected - are still not precisely known. Damage to the fine hair cells and nerve pathways or errors in the transmission of stimuli from the auditory center are probably responsible for the ringing, buzzing or whistling in the ear. But how does this damage occur?

Noise exposure

Acoustic trauma is one of the best-known causes of tinnitus. These include, for example, unexpected bangs, explosions or permanently loud background noise, as is the case at concerts and in some workplaces without hearing protection. 30 percent of all diagnosed cases of tinnitus are due to excessive noise. It is therefore good to know that preventive measures to protect the hearing can be used sensibly to prevent the development of complaints such as tinnitus or sudden hearing loss.

Diseases

The possible causes of tinnitus also include a number of illnesses. For example, inflammation of the middle or inner ear plays just as much a role as

• Defects of the eardrum,
• circulatory disorders,
• occlusions of the auditory canal and
• tumors on the auditory nerve.

But contrary to what you might think, it is not just diagnoses that affect the ear and its immediate surroundings. The development of tinnitus can also be caused by

• functional disorders in the area of the jaw or the cervical spine,
• as by the presence of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as by
• abnormalities of the central nervous system or - hormonal changes.

The causes are manifold, just looking at the physical level. Therefore, a well-conducted diagnosis is just as important as the intensive cooperation of tinnitus patients when it comes to alleviating their symptoms and improving their quality of life.

Behavior, medication and more

If sufferers turn to medical professionals because of their reduced quality of life, it is not only possible illnesses that should be included in the diagnosis. Current and past medication and other events that can lead to the development of tinnitus should also be taken into account. The following factors can be mentioned here:

• Alcohol abuse
• narcotics
• Pressure changes, such as those caused by diving or air travel

Mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder or depression are also conceivable causes of tinnitus.

Options for improving the quality of life with tinnitus

If the ringing in the ears lasts longer than three months, it is known as chronic tinnitus. Although it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the cause and therefore the possibility of basic treatment, sufferers do not have to give up hope: In around 30 percent of patients, chronic tinnitus disappears even after up to ten years of illness.

There are numerous possible causes of tinnitus. For this reason, diagnosis is often difficult and symptomatic treatment, which focuses on improving the quality of life, makes sense. What can this look like to minimize the patient's suffering in everyday life?

The first and most important piece of advice is that those affected should be allowed to talk openly about their diagnosis. This is especially true if the tinnitus is accompanied by

• depressive moods,
• loss of self-confidence or
• similar symptoms occur,

which can be alleviated with behavioral therapy support. What actually helps against ringing in the ears varies from person to person: In addition to medication, tips range from distraction and acupuncture, to dietary supplements, so-called noisers that mask the frequency of the tinnitus, relaxation techniques and hypnosis. It is important that affected patients are given the space to find out what helps and is good for them personally.