The latest buzz I’m referring to has nothing to do with fashion or food or anything remotely fun … it’s quite literally, a buzz. A persistent, ambient sound that only I hear 24/7.
Would you find it surprising to be told that approximately 10-15% of the adult population in the US experiences some form of tinnitus, either occasional or chronic? Or that it becomes more common with age, since as much as 25-30% of adults over the age of 70 may be dealing with tinnitus. It can be caused by a number of factors and tinnitus can range from mild and intermittent to severe and constant.
While I’ve called it a buzz, there is no actual noise but a perception of sound that occurs within the head. Many refer to the noise as “ringing in the ears”; however, those experiencing tinnitus have also described the sound they “hear” as a buzz or hum, a whistle, a hiss, clicks or crackles, or a roar of falling water.
Tinnitus can vary greatly from person to person in terms of the perceived sound, its intensity, and how it impacts an individual’s daily life. It’s typically a subjective phenomenon, meaning that only the person experiencing tinnitus can hear the sound, and it cannot be detected by others through external means.
Here’s another “would you be surprised to know” little factoid. Ask most mid-life women about the symptoms of menopause, they will likely include any or all of the following; hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep disturbance, weight gain, cognitive changes, and loss of libido. But did you know that tinnitus is among some of the less common yet likely ones like joint pain, tingling/numbness in extremities, body odor, digestive issues, changes in hair and skin, and chest pain/palpitations?
This latest buzz isn’t something new in my life even though this is the first time I’m writing on the subject. For some indefinite amount of time years ago, I would hear/feel the buzzing after driving to/from work. I don’t blast my radio at high volume nor do I have any other type of exposure to loud noises at my job or in my home. At first, I thought it was an echoing of road noise and assumed nothing could be done about it short of finding a job closer to home.
Then a little over 4 years ago, I began to notice that this buzz was occurring all day. Not always with the same intensity. Sometimes it was quite faint and at other times, it was like a cacophonous roar. It was often at its loudest later in the day and when I was feeling a lot of stress, especially at work. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to affect my hearing nor did it seem to interfere with my sleeping.
Nonetheless, I made an appointment with my doctor to get checked and after her exam, she felt that it might be related to sinus/allergies. She made a referral for me to get a hearing test as well. Depending on what those results were and whether I got any relief from sinus meds and using a Neti Pot, she would then make a referral to an ENT.
The hearing test showed some high-frequency hearing loss which might make it difficult for me to make out the conversation in certain situations, such as when background noise is present. Or that I might have trouble with certain words- typically with consonant sounds like “s”, “f”, or “th”. I had noticed a bit of difficulty hearing in very loud environments but I thought that was kind of normal. My fix for those situations was/is to use a hand to push my ear forward so as to “turn up the volume”.
For a while, I’d considered that my buzzing was the result of stress. The stress of my 60-90 minute commute to work, the stress of work itself, the stress from inconsistent sleep, the stress from limited physical activity. The hearing test alleviated many of my fears and to be honest, I didn’t follow through with the sinus meds or Neti Pot. I was busy at work and with retirement on the horizon, I figured that I could deal with it when I had more time on my hands. I also hoped that if my tinnitus was more stress-related, then retirement would be the ultimate cure.
And we all know how that turned out. Because if retirement was the cure, then I wouldn’t be writing this post, would I? And I’ve been most surprised by this. I have way less mental stress and I consistently get way more good, quality sleep than when I was still working. There have been times after waking up when the buzz is barely a whisper. As before, it usually gets louder as the day wears on. I can go for days without leaving my home so riding in a car doesn’t seem to be a trigger although I do notice it more then (especially when The Husband is driving 😳).
Perhaps the damage is already done and there’s nothing that can reverse it. Googling has pretty much led me nowhere so it’s been on my mind to ask my doctor for a referral to an ENT. An obviously smart thing to do in order to rule out other causes like inner ear issues, TMJ, or vascular disorders. It’s probably just aging but it would be good to know for sure.
As for fashion-wise buzz, you must know by now that blazers are still going strong, which is why I included my new favorite one in my style remix collection for this month. I’d once dreamt of the day when I’d be wearing a blazer in a casual look for a day running errands. I especially like how it looks paired up with cargo pants (also buzzing for Fall). Rounding out the look are a striped tank, a novelty belt, and black trainers. While I still adorn my white sneakers, I think black ones are going to be the next big thing. And you can take that to the bank!
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. Today’s featured post from the last link-up, What style image do you think you have?, which was contributed by Penny over at Frugal Fashion Shopper. In her post, Penny bares her soul a bit about the relatable challenges of aging and facing up to the realities of living a full life.
So, have I left you buzzing with information about tinnitus? Since it can be caused by a wide range of factors, including exposure to loud noises, age-related hearing loss, earwax blockage, medications, underlying medical conditions, and more, if you or someone you know is bothered by tinnitus, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional or an audiologist for evaluation and potential management options.
Even though tinnitus itself is not a life-threatening condition, it can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, causing sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and concentration difficulties for some individuals. For me, I’ve learned to live with it for now but I’m still looking for more options. Do you have any suggestions to share?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Photo credit: MMPerez
16 Comments
I actually did know a lot of this since my youngest son had to see an ENT a couple of years ago for a constant sound he has experiencing and we got to talking with the doctor about it. However, we were interested to know that sound in just one side of the head is a huge red flag and more concerning than overall sound. Thankfully his wasn’t anything real concerning– the MRI revealed that on one side of his head his arteries pass closer to his ear than on the other side so the sound he’s hearing is actually related to his heartbeat.
I did not know about this and I hope that you are able to find an option that helps. I love a look with a blazer and this one is fabulous!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I’m so sorry you have to deal with tinnitus. I get it occasionally mostly due to allergies. It is so annoying! I have a friend who deals with it constantly and the only relief is when he showers… the noise of the shower out does the tinnitus noise. I hope yours goes away soon.
Karin
What a timely post. I have had issues with plugged up ears for awhile and was just lying here reading your article and being aware of a buzzing noise in my ears. Maybe I’ll check out an ENT. I’m hoping I can improve my hearing if I do.
Anything that can affect your sleep can affect the quality of your life, your mood adversely. My son (9 year old) and husband have severe sleep apnea and I can tell how it affects them as well as other family members. Hope you’re able to manage this issue.
Ashh | That September Muse
I never heard of this before but just read Joanne comment too. My mom has had significant hearing loss for radiation and other issues from it but that is unrelated to this. Hope is does not get worse for you.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
First of all, Rena, super cute outfit! I love the blazer, cargo pants, sneakers combination on you. Secondly, I feel for you with constant tinnitus. I occasionally get it and I don’t like it at all! So I can only imagine how annoying it is when it happens all the time. I have noticed that certain strains of marijuana can cause intense tinnitus for about 15-20 minutes after I smoke it. But then it always goes away. While weed is a great cure for many things, it is not so much for ear ringing! This was a really great post and very helpful, my friend. I am one who suffers from just about every single menopause symptom there is! Except weight gain, thankfully. But I pay the price for that with constant nausea and digestive issues. I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!
Shelbee
Yes, I know several persons who have it and I’m sorry you have it too. I how that there will be a solution for it as it can be really awful I hear. Thanks for hosting and I hope to see you on my Fancy Friday linkup party too.
I’ve had tinnitus for years, but thankfully it doesn’t affect me too much. It was interesting to get an audio feedback test in a class during grad school because the tinnitus caused my results to be abnormal. I hope you find something that helps!
I have had tinnitus for many years and blame driving with the windows down for part of it. I also have a hearing loss in my right ear and have had that since I was about 9 or 10. I’ve seen my doctor nd talked about the tinnitus. He said there’s not much that can be done about it since I don’t have any physical reasons for it. I have noticed it’s worse later in the day, but I think that may be because the later hours are quieter around the house. It’s aggravating, but if it never gets any worse, I’ll be OK.
Thanks for the information and the link party!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
You have my sympathy Rena, I’ve always thought tinnitus would be terrible. Hope you can find a way of minimising it.
My eldest daughter has tinnitus which came on suddenly when she lost a dearly loved pet a year ago. Scans and tests have ruled out any sinister underlying reason and yet she’s been told it’s permanent. I know stress can have far reaching effects but find it difficult to accept that that there is nothing to be done for a woman in her forties. I’ve read that it’s not always permanent so live in hope!
On the fashion front, nothing beats a blazer for versatility Rena – a great look!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
I am so sorry you are experiencing tinnitus. Hopefully, it will subside and you will get relief. Great outfit! Blazers are always a third layer option.
Everything that happens after a certain age is a result of menopause (that’s my take on it). And stress is pervasive, it just shows up differently at different stages. Haven’t gone to an ENT yet but my remedy for everything is laughter, exercise and prayer. Seems to be working. I love your outfit.
Very interesting and thanks for sharing this with us. I hope that you find the help and a good option for you.
I’ve had tinnitus for about 25 years – it started suddenly and I subsequently discovered I had lost some high pitch hearing. In the year that followed I went completely deaf in that ear, which a doctor a couple of years ago said could have been avoided if I’d had steroids. At first I found tinnitus very difficult to deal with, especially as I was studying music. I learned to live with it and mostly ignore it fairly quickly. The hearing loss makes social situations difficult, although I went back to my doctor a couple of weeks ago to ask for a new ENT referral. If I’m eligible for a cochlear implant I will have it, but I’ve been warned it will be a long wait to see a specialist. Avoiding stress and getting adequate sleep certainly helps with tolerating tinnitus.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com