Tinnitus is a problem that affects a lot of people in the U.S. About 50-million Americans have tinnitus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This means that about 15% of Americans will have some kind of tinnitus at some point in their lives. Tinnitus is one of the most common health problems in the United States, so if you have it, you are definitely not alone.

People with tinnitus hear noises in their ears, in their heads or in both places. The person with tinnitus may be able to hear the sound, but other people won’t be able to. It’s called subjective tinnitus.

Even though tinnitus is a fairly common problem, there is a lot of mystery and many myths about it. People with the condition may be hurt by these myths because they might stop them from getting help. Here are some of those myths for you now.

Tinnitus Is an Ear Disease

Tinnitus is seen as a disease of the ear by most people. When it comes down to it, it’s really just a symptom of an underlying health issue. Despite the fact that tinnitus might sound like ringing in the ears, this does not indicate that the tinnitus is coming from the ears. Neck and jaw problems, sinus pressure and other ailments may all cause tinnitus. Some medications might cause tinnitus as a side effect.

If you begin to experience tinnitus, you should make an appointment with a hearing health professional so that the underlying reason and treatment can be determined.

Tinnitus Is a Ringing Sound in the Ears

Many people think of tinnitus as an irritating ringing in their ears, but this isn’t always the case. Those with tinnitus may believe that the ringing in their ears is really coming from within their heads.

Tinnitus is not only a ringing in the ears; it may well be accompanied by a range of other noises. Hearing a whistling, buzzing or even a whooshing noise may be a sign of tinnitus. Tinnitus can be heard as a musical note in the ears of certain individuals.

Tinnitus Only Affects Older People

Tinnitus is not exclusive to the elderly; it can affect anybody, regardless of their age. People of all ages have tinnitus, which is caused by a variety of reasons. This is because various medical issues, medication side effects or loud sounds can all cause it.

Males between the ages of 60-69 are the most likely to experience tinnitus. Age-related hearing loss may be a factor in the increased prevalence of the illness in this age range. Tinnitus can strike anybody at any moment, regardless of age.

Tinnitus Is Permanent

Tinnitus can last forever, but this isn’t always the case. Most of the time, how long your tinnitus lasts depends on what caused it in the first place. If you started having tinnitus after being around a lot of loud noise, like at a concert, you might find that it goes away after a day or two. If your tinnitus is caused by a buildup of earwax, you might notice that it gets better quickly after the wax is removed. If your tinnitus is caused by age-related hearing loss, it may last for a long time, but there are ways to make the symptoms go away.

There are many things that can cause tinnitus, so it’s important to see a hearing health professional to find out what’s wrong and how to treat it.

Have you been feeling the effects of tinnitus? If so, call one of our offices to discuss potential treatment options: