What in the World is Tinnitus and Why in the World Does It Matter?

Before we get too deeply into the subject of Tinnitus, let's all stop for a moment and give thanks we don't live in ancient Egypt roughly 2500 years before the birth of Christ. According to a document called the Ebers papyrus, people who suffered from a condition known as "a bewitched ear" would be treated with an infusion of "balanites oil 1 portion, frankincense 1 portion, and sekhopf 1 portion". I don't know about you, but I don't have 1 portion of balanites hidden in my medicine cabinet behind the tweezers. Let's not even talk about trying to get some sekhopf at 11 P.M., especially if you don't happen to live in a big city in close vicinity to the Nile and some pyramids.

The interesting thing about this papyrus is that it may be the oldest description of a common, but debilitating condition called tinnitus. Tinnitus, most simply, is a persistent steady sound such as a buzzing, clicking, or whistling that is audible without a source of sound. Nearly every adult has suffered from at least a mild and temporary incident of tinnitus, most often caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises. If you've ever spent too much time too close to the speakers at a rock concert and got that ringing in your ears that lasted a few hours after the show, you had a mild form of tinnitus. In that case, what happened was the noise damaged certain fine hair inside your ears that transmit signals to neurons in your brain. Once the damage heals, the signals get to the neurons in the right ways and the tinnitus goes away.

However, some people endure lasting tinnitus that affects them in a number of ways. According to a recent paper published in The Lancet, 10 to 15 percent of people suffer from chronic tinnitus. Most who have the condition are able to function well enough with it but roughly 1 to 2 percent of people report a severe effect on their quality of life. To put that in perspective, New York City has an approximate population of 8.5 million people, which means 170,000 people have a bad enough case of tinnitus that it negatively affects their life. That's a lot of people. Spread that out over a whole nation and the numbers get a bit mind-boggling. For example, the American Tinnitus Association estimates that 20 million or so Americans have what it calls "burdensome chronic tinnitus".

Those negative effects, those burdens, are not trivial. Tinnitus is linked, at least in surveys, to depression, sleep disorders, social isolation, and anxiety. At its worst, it can drive people to attempt suicide. Though detailed medical studies are thin, scientists are finding the condition affects many parts of the brain and may, in fact, change how a tinnitus-sufferer's brain actually works. Imagine 20 million people, all over this country, enduring a persistent noise that simply will not stop. Imagine how miserable those people must be.

Now imagine some of those people are your friends, family, and loved ones. There's a very good chance you know at least one person with tinnitus, especially if that person is a soldier.

The most common cause of tinnitus is noise, though age runs a relatively close second. Because of the nature of their jobs, soldiers are especially prone to to it. In 2012, tinnitus and hearing loss were the two most-reported disabilities connected to service.  This year, the AARP noted some 2.7 million veterans receive disability benefits due to tinnitus or hearing loss. That's a lot of soldiers, and more get diagnosed every year.

Despite its prevalence, there is no sure cure for tinnitus. The ATA says that sound therapy, especially sound masking devices -- devices that make steady and pleasing noises louder than the sounds of tinnitus -- can provide temporary relief. As of right now, no one can say for sure that a certain course of treatment will work for a certain person, but a recent survey of clinical trials has shown some hope that with the right device and the right therapies, people who suffer from the worst effects of tinnitus can find at least consistent temporary relief.

And that sounds a lot better than an infusion of ancient Egyptian schmutz, now doesn't it?

Warning: This guy may be responsible for a few bewitched ears.

(Photo Credits: @chairulfajar_ on Unsplash and ArtsyBee on Pixabay)