CHAPTER EIGHT
Tinnitus: A Journey of Discovery
Grant D. Searchfield, Ph.D.

Peter’s story is repeated many times everyday all around the world. Tinnitus (ear noises) is a common complaint poorly understood by most people and often misrepresented as a minor nuisance. It is true that for many people tinnitus is a very occasional slight irritation, but many people do suffer and are tormented by the sounds within. While there’s still no cure for tinnitus, now more than ever there’s a wide range of options for its management and treatment. There has been a huge upsurge in tinnitus research which is beginning to bring rewards for researchers who have invested time and resources in search of solutions. In this chapter I’m going to recount Peter’s journey of discovery from tinnitus onset through to his recovery—as a means to illustrate how the information presented here can help you, your family and friends if you suffer from tinnitus. On this journey we’ll encounter some of the mysteries of tinnitus and areas science is only now beginning to explore. In this process I hope you’ll discover what tinnitus is, how it is managed and signs that you’re on the right track for tinnitus recovery.

Tinnitus is hearing a sound that isn’t present in our environment. The phrase “ringing in the ears” is sometimes used but a ringing sound is just one example of different perceptions that can be classified as tinnitus (buzzing, hissing, cricket sounds are heard alongside many other sounds). A lot of people experience some degree of tinnitus. The American Tinnitus Association (http://www.ata.org) estimates that as many as 12 million Americans are sufficiently affected by tinnitus that they should seek professional help. Although some people see tinnitus as a by-product of our noisy, stressful, modern life, tinnitus has accompanied ear injuries for as long as we can remember. As long as there has been tinnitus there have been theories as to its origins. As with other medical problems tinnitus was once attributed to supernatural or religious causes.1 With development of science and modern medicine, tinnitus became linked to injuries of the ear. Tinnitus is now considered not to arise just as a sound signal at the ear, but instead is considered to be the end consequence of a cascade of events, usually commencing with ear injury. The post-injury events involve an interplay of changed activity of the ear to multiple changes through the hearing and sensory regions of the brain.

First Steps

. . . It is natural for us to be concerned about this strange tinnitus sound. If we’ve never experienced it before, it can be scary: What’s causing this sound? Is it going to get worse? Am I losing my hearing am I losing my MIND!? While there’s good information on the Internet or in books (such as this one), the journey to tinnitus discovery should begin with a visit to your family physician. Why? A consultation with a physician may identify causes of tinnitus that can be treated and most importantly rule out causes that have other effects if left untreated. When you visit a physician or other health professional, take a list of questions with you, and don’t be afraid to ask them. Positive information which is based on good evidence may lead to many worries being laid to rest. If we worry about tinnitus we’ll naturally pay it more attention. In cases of unexplained tinnitus or tinnitus that’s affecting how you feel, your family physician may refer you to an otologist (ear specialist), audiologist (hearing specialist) or psychologist (science dealing with the mind).

Causes

Tinnitus can arise from many other conditions which is why a thorough evaluation by a physician is so important.