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The 5 biggest tinnitus misconceptions
Do you suffer from tinnitus? Don’t worry, you are not alone with this.
Tinnitus can take several forms. In the following, we will explain the most popular tinnitus myths to you.
Table of Contents
- What is tinnitus?
- Tinnitus from loud music
- Tinnitus goes away after a while
- TInnitus is incurable
- Tinnitus can be cured through diet
- There is no effective cure for tinnitus
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is described by those affected either as a noise, ringing, buzzing or knocking, which is always perceived particularly clearly when there is hardly any noise in the environment. Without therapeutic treatment or the use of special tinnitus maskers, as they are also used in modern hearing aids, the often permanent noises in the ears can become a very stressful element in everyday life.
Although tinnitus is by no means an isolated phenomenon, there are still numerous prejudices about it. Below you will learn more about common misconceptions about tinnitus.
Tinnitus Myth # 1
Tinnitus only affects people who often go to concerts or who listen to music very loudly
Loud music (even through headphones) and noisy concerts can be a cause of tinnitus – but not the only one. Tinnitus in itself is not a disease in its own right, but a symptom, an indication of another ailment. It can affect people of all ages, genders, and professional backgrounds. In most cases, however, the symptoms appear between the ages of 40 and 50. There is no difference between women and men.
Tinnitus Myth # 2
Tinnitus goes away on its own after a while
Many sufferers shy away from telling friends, family or acquaintances about their tinnitus – let alone asking you for help. Instead, they hope that the noises in the ears will go away on their own. Tinnitus caused by medication or other temporary influences can actually stop. In most cases, however, the annoying ringing will not simply go away. The sooner those affected seek help from a specialist, the higher the chance that the symptoms will be cured soon or their symptoms will be alleviated.
Tinnitus myth # 3
Tinnitus is an incurable disease
As already mentioned, tinnitus is not a disease in its own right. If the root cause can be identified and treated, the likelihood of relief from the tinnitus burden increases. If left untreated, tinnitus can trigger tiredness, depression, anxiety, and memory problems or worsen an existing handicap. In most cases, however, tinnitus can be treated effectively and satisfactorily.
Tinnitus Myth # 4
Tinnitus can be remedied by changing your diet
Again and again, certain foods or additives are blamed for the occurrence of tinnitus. However, research has shown that these assumptions are incorrect. Although a balanced diet and a healthy diet can have a positive effect on the treatment of tinnitus, a change in diet cannot completely correct the problem.
Tinnitus myth # 5
There is no effective cure for tinnitus
That is perhaps the biggest mistake. Specialists can determine whether and to what extent someone is affected by tinnitus. This is the first step in treating the symptoms because it may then also recommend certain methods of treatment. The use of tinnitus maskers, often in combination with other forms of therapy, is based on the individual hearing profile and also targets the psychological and emotional side effects that are often associated with tinnitus.
