Tinnitus: When There’s Humming in Your Head and It Won’t Go Away

October 1, 2014

When Robert Plant sang “Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know,” he could have been singing about tinnitus, a common problem, that is even more prevalent among musicians. About 50 million people in the US suffer from tinnitus, but it is estimated that less than one-third seek treatment.

According to the American Tinnitus Association, tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present. Commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears,” people describe it as a hissing, buzzing, roaring, or chirping sound. Some musicians have also reported “musical hallucination,” hearing phantom music in their ears that cannot be attributed to an outside source.

Huw Cooper, consultant audiologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, says this type of tinnitus often goes unreported. “This is because people are familiar with tinnitus as banging or ringing, but when they hear music, they don’t think of tinnitus. If someone is deaf or loses their hearing, the part of the brain that processes sound signals is deprived of stimulation. In the absence of sound, the brain fills in the gaps, as it were, by tuning to musical memory for stimulation,” she says.

There can be a number of causes for tinnitus, but exposure to excessively loud sounds is one of the most common, especially when it comes to tinnitus in musicians. Prominent musicians who suffer from tinnitus include Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) member Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, Pete Townshend, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, and Local 257 (Nashville, TN) member Ryan Adams, who also suffers from the more severe Meniere’s Disease, and episodes of vertigo.

Remember, the hearing risk to musicians is related to the volume and relative sound exposure. Any kind of music—classical, jazz, rock, Latin—can be too loud. In general, noise exposure at or below 85 decibels (dB) is considered safe, meaning it would be unlikely to do damage over an eight-hour exposure. For every three decibels above 85 dB, your allowable exposure time is cut in half. (For example, the allowable exposure time at 88 dB is four hours, 91 dB is two hours, etc.) Frequently, volumes at gigs can be up to 130 dB, which is safe for less than one second.

To avoid potential hearing loss and noise-induced tinnitus, the American Tinnitus Association offers these tips: limit the intensity of the noise by not standing directly near its source; wear earplugs when you’re around sounds of 85 dB and above; and periodically step outside (or away from loud noise) to give your ears a break. Look for musicians’ earplugs that attenuate sound, allowing you to more accurately assess sound than with standard earplugs.

If you think you may already be suffering from tinnitus, contact an audiologist, otologist, or otolaryngologist for an examination as soon as possible to determine if there is a treatable medical condition causing your tinnitus. Keep in mind that natural tinnitus reduction can occur at any time. Also, certain medications, along with caffeine, nicotine, and quinine can exacerbate the problem.

Do not panic and create negative forecasts for your treatment. Aside from your doctor’s suggestions, be involved in your own recovery. Keep track of possible triggers for your tinnitus. This can include everything from diet to stress.

There are a number of treatment options available and your healthcare provider will help you determine what may work for you. Here are some possible options:

• Alternative treatments: Some people experience relief with minerals like magnesium or zinc, herbal preparations like biloba, and homeopathic remedies like acupuncture and hypnosis, but there is no conclusive data to support these claims.
• Amplification: Some find relief with hearing aids because they bring back ambient sounds that naturally cover the tinnitus.
• Biofeedback: Teaching people to control autonomic body functions (pulse, muscle tension, etc.), thereby managing their reaction to stress, can help.
• Cochlear implants/electrical stimulation: Stimulation in the ear can briefly stop tinnitus.
• Cognitive therapy: Counseling based therapy treats the emotional reaction to tinnitus, rather than tinnitus itself, by helping to identify negative behaviors and thought patterns.
• Drug therapy: Many drugs (anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, and anesthetics) have been used to relieve tinnitus, but there are none specifically for tinnitus.
• Sound therapy: Sometimes called masking, sound can be used to completely or partially cover the tinnitus.
• TMJ treatment: Tinnitus can be caused by a dysfunction on the jaw joint (TMJ), so dental treatment or bite alignment that relieves TMJ pain may relieve tinnitus.

Don’t give up if the first treatment does not work. Sign onto the American Tinnitus Association website (ATA.org) to find out all you can about tinnitus and get the support of others suffering from this debilitating ailment.