If you are one of the millions of people in the U.S. suffering from a medical disorder known as tinnitus then you probably know that it often gets worse when you are attempting to fall asleep. But what’s the reason for this? The ringing or buzzing in one or both ears isn’t an actual noise but a complication of a medical issue like hearing loss, either lasting or temporary. Naturally, knowing what it is won’t explain why you have this buzzing, ringing, or whooshing noise more often during the night.
The reality is more common sense than you probably think. But first, we have to learn a little more about this all-too-common condition.
Tinnitus, what is it?
To say tinnitus isn’t a real sound just adds to the confusion, but, for most people, that is true. It’s a sound no one else is able to hear. It sounds like air-raid sirens are ringing in your ears but the person sleeping right beside you can’t hear it at all.
Tinnitus by itself isn’t a disease or disorder, but an indication that something else is happening. It is generally associated with significant hearing loss. Tinnitus is frequently the first sign that hearing loss is setting in. People who have hearing loss frequently don’t recognize their condition until the tinnitus symptoms begin because it progresses so slowly. Your hearing is changing if you begin to hear these noises, and they’re warning you of those changes.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus is one of medical science’s biggest conundrums and doctors don’t have a strong understanding of why it occurs. It could be a symptom of inner ear damage or numerous other possible medical conditions. The inner ear contains lots of tiny hair cells made to vibrate in response to sound waves. Tinnitus often means there is damage to those hair cells, enough to keep them from transmitting electrical messages to the brain. Your brain converts these electrical signals into recognizable sounds.
The current theory regarding tinnitus has to do with the absence of sound. The brain remains on the alert to get these messages, so when they don’t arrive, it fills in that space with the phantom noise of tinnitus. It gets confused by the lack of input from the ear and attempts to compensate for it.
When it comes to tinnitus, that would clarify some things. For starters, why it’s a symptom of so many different illnesses that affect the ear: minor infections, concussions, and age-related hearing loss. It also tells you something about why the ringing gets louder at night for some people.
Why does tinnitus get worse at night?
Unless you are significantly deaf, your ear picks up some sounds during the day whether you know it or not. It will faintly pick up sounds coming from another room or around the corner. At the very least, you hear your own voice, but that all goes quiet during the night when you try to fall asleep.
Abruptly, all the sound fades away and the level of confusion in the brain rises in response. It only knows one thing to do when faced with complete silence – create noise even if it’s not real. Sensory deprivation has been demonstrated to trigger hallucinations as the brain attempts to insert information, including auditory input, into a place where there isn’t any.
In other words, it’s too quiet at night so your tinnitus seems louder. Creating sound may be the solution for people who can’t sleep due to that irritating ringing in the ear.
Creating noise at night
A fan running is often enough to reduce tinnitus symptoms for many people. Just the noise of the motor is enough to decrease the ringing.
But, there are also devices designed to help those who have tinnitus get to sleep. White noise machines simulate nature sounds like rain or ocean waves. If you were to keep a TV on, it might be disruptive, but white noise machines generate soothing sounds that you can sleep through. Your smartphone also has the ability to download apps that will play calming sounds.
Can anything else make tinnitus symptoms worse?
Lack of sound isn’t the only thing that can trigger an increase in your tinnitus. Too much alcohol before bed can contribute to more severe tinnitus symptoms. Other things, like high blood pressure and stress can also contribute to your symptoms. Contact us for an appointment if these suggestions aren’t helping or if you’re feeling dizzy when your tinnitus symptoms are active.
References
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/hearing-loss-tinnitus-statistics/
