Tinnitus is the condition when a person hears phantom noises that don’t exist. There are many causes of tinnitus. They include ear infections, medications and congenital hearing loss. However, the most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss as a result of loud noises.
How loud does a noise have to be in order to cause hearing loss and tinnitus?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that noises louder than 85 decibels can cause hearing damage. Furthermore, the longer a person is exposed to this noise, the more likely a person is to suffer hearing loss and tinnitus.
A single bark of a dog from four feet away is as loud as 95 decibels, louder than the
85 decibel limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). If your dog is closer to you than four feet away, that number could be much higher.
Two dogs together barking would be 3 decibels higher which would total 98 decibels.
The extent to which a loud noise would be dangerous is how much noise over what period of time. A person who is exposed to a barking dog for several hours may suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus.
There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss is physical damage to the ear, such as broken ear bones. Surgery is the best option for this type of damage.
With regard to sensorineural hearing loss, the nerve in the inner ear is damaged. Unfortunately, the only solution is a hearing aid.
Tinnitus is yet another result of nerve damage to the ear. This is a phantom noise that a person hears even when no auditory stimulus is present.
There are two types of tinnitus: objective and subjective. The advantage of objective tinnitus is that it can be measured by an ENT. With subjective tinnitus, however, the severity is based solely on the claim made by the patient.
If you think you may have a loss of hearing, you should be checked by an audiologist. If you hear sounds inside your head, you should make a visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT).
If you are a dog owner, and your dog barks loudly, ask your audiologist or Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT) what you can do to prevent further damage to your ears.
One of the primary causes of tinnitus is hearing loss, which is damage to inner ear from loud noises. The brain tries to compensate for the lack of stimulation to the nerves of the ear by creating its own sounds, hence the tinnitus. Tinnitus may be perceived as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whooshing, clicking or other sounds.
There are many people who have a loss of hearing and don’t know it. Some signs of hearing loss include:
- You find that you are missing out on bits of conversations when people talk
- You find the need to ask people to repeat things
- Your friends or relatives complain that the volume on your television/radio is very high
- You have a hard time hearing people speak on the telephone
- You try to avoid group conversations because you can’t hear everyone
If any of the above is relevant to you, it is recommended that you see an audiologist to test your hearing.
If you hear noises in your ears that others don’t, then you are also suffering from tinnitus.
In general, you should use hearing protection when exposed to loud noises, as well as lower the volume of radios, MP3 players, and the like in order to prevent hearing loss and tinnitus. If you already suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus, you can prevent further damage to your ears.
Construction equipment and music have been clinically proven to cause hearing loss and tinnitus. If you work in a place where you are exposed to loud noises, you should purchase ear plugs if your employer doesn’t want to provide them for you.
If you are exposed to a loud noise and do not have hearing protection on hand, try to get as far away from the source as possible. The further away you move, the less likely the sound will damage your ears.
Taking steps to protect your ears at home and in the workplace will help you have a better quality of life.
There are different remedies that may help relieve tinnitus.
The sound of tinnitus is akin to an air conditioner in some people. The constant buzzing or humming may interfere with a person’s sleep and cause anxiety or depression. The brain may also create sounds of tinnitus that mimic other noises – such as hissing or ringing.
What should a person suffering from tinnitus do?
First, a person with tinnitus should cut down on caffeine. Caffeine restricts blood flow to the ear, which in turn causes nerve damage.
Second, cutting down on salt intake is also beneficial. Too much salt can lead to fluid retention in the inner ear.
Third, Gingko biloba extract improves circulation in the body, including the inner ear. This will help prevent further nerve damage.
Fourth, make sure you take a magnesium supplement. People who are deficient in this mineral are more susceptible to nerve damage of the inner ear.
Finally, take a vitamin B12 supplement. This vitamin is crucial for proper functioning of the maze of tubes and nerves that comprise the inner ear.
A change in diet, as mentioned above, can help relieve the annoying symptoms of tinnitus.
