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Research has shown that the more you learn about tinnitus, the better you are able to choose an effective treatment strategy and begin to get your life back. In other words, the more you know, the better chance you have of lessening the effects of tinnitus on your life. Additionally, there is a lot said about tinnitus that is not always accurate or true. If you have beliefs about your tinnitus that are not correct, it is going to slow down the progress that you can make. It is important to learn the truth about tinnitus so that you can move forward with treatment. The following list contains some common myths and facts about tinnitus. This list is not exhaustive, but covers the most common myths we have encountered over many years of treating tinnitus patients.

Myth 1: Tinnitus is a disease.

Fact: Tinnitus is not a disease or condition in and of itself, but is instead a symptom of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss, ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder. It’s like the pain you feel when you injure yourself– it is a symptom of a bigger issue that needs to be addressed. 

Myth 2: Only older people get tinnitus.

Fact: While tinnitus is more common in older adults due to age-related hearing loss, it can affect people of all ages, including children. Exposure to loud noise and other risk factors can cause tinnitus in younger individuals.

Myth 3: There is nothing you can do about tinnitus.

Fact: While there is no cure for tinnitus, various treatments and strategies can help manage the symptoms. These include treating hearing loss with hearing devices, sound therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Lenire or other bimodal stimulation therapies, and lifestyle changes like reducing exposure to loud noises and managing stress.

Myth 4: Tinnitus is always caused by loud noise.

Fact: Although exposure to loud noise is a common cause of tinnitus, it is not the only one. Tinnitus can also be triggered by ear infections, earwax buildup, hearing loss, certain medications, head or neck injuries, and other health conditions like Meniere's disease or acoustic neuroma.

Myth 5: Tinnitus will always get worse over time.

Fact: Tinnitus does not necessarily worsen over time. For many people, the severity and impact of tinnitus can remain stable or even improve with appropriate management and treatment. In fact, for many chronic tinnitus sufferers, tinnitus tends to cycle up and down depending on stress levels, sleep patterns, and other factors. 

Myth 6: Tinnitus is only a problem if it is very loud.

Fact: The impact of tinnitus on a person's quality of life is not solely dependent on its loudness. Even mild tinnitus can be distressing and interfere with daily activities, sleep, and concentration. The amount of distress varies greatly among patients.

Myth 7: Tinnitus is all in your head.

Fact: Tinnitus is a real condition with physical and neurological causes. It is not imagined or psychological, although stress and emotional factors can exacerbate the perception of tinnitus.

Myth 8: There is a universal treatment that works for everyone with tinnitus.

Fact: Tinnitus affects people differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Treatment plans are tailored to the individual's specific needs and the underlying cause of their tinnitus.

Myth 9: Tinnitus always causes severe distress

Fact: Only about 10 to 20% of those with tinnitus, which is 1 to 3% of general population, are very distressed by tinnitus. Most people are initially bothered, but after a few months, their annoyance lessens. For this reason, we generally recommend that people wait at least 4-8 weeks from the onset of tinnitus to make an appointment with a tinnitus specialist.

Myth 10: Tinnitus is always loud and very bothersome.

Fact: Tinnitus loudness and annoyance are not always linked. When tinnitus is really loud, it sometimes makes tinnitus more bothersome. There are also factors that affect how bothersome it is. These include what you are doing or your focus at the time. Some people with loud tinnitus are less annoyed than others with a quiet level of tinnitus. Overall, the loudness of the tinnitus is not as important as how people feel about their tinnitus.

Myth 11: The only way to reduce the distress caused by tinnitus is by stopping the tinnitus.

Fact: Although there is no quick cure for tinnitus, many people have habituated to the tinnitus and report noticing it much less frequently. Some people need treatment in order to habituate to the tinnitus. The goal of treatment is to decrease the emotional and physiological effects of tinnitus so that even if it doesn’t go away 100%, it is not causing distress anymore. 

Myth 12: Tinnitus can cause hearing loss, sound sensitivity, or dizziness.

Fact: Although tinnitus makes it harder to focus on things, it doesn't cause hearing loss– in fact, in most cases, the tinnitus and dizziness are caused by hearing loss. This is not the case in every patient, hence the need for a comprehensive tinnitus assessment by a qualified tinnitus specialist to determine the cause of tinnitus and the best course of treatment.


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