Research reveals that tinnitus causes psychological problems

Pronouncing the word “tinnitus” may seem challenging to those who don’t experience constant sound in their ears. No, it’s not about the noise mosquitoes make when they pass by ears!

For those who live with this phenomenon, tinnitus is a constant companion in every moment of conscious life, a sound that persists in the ears without a visible external source.

For a large portion of the North American population, this tinnitus reaches such severe levels that it significantly affects quality of life.

Results A The survey was conducted in 2023 He noted that ringing in the ears is linked to high levels of depression and anxiety.

Moreover, the study revealed an association with the sum of other effects, characterized by headache, fatigue and similar physical symptoms.

These findings highlight the significant ramifications of this persistent auditory phenomenon on the mental health and physical safety of those affected.

Tinnitus problem

All of us carry tinnitus, an intrinsic sound generated by our own sound and life support systems. For most people, this tinnitus is so subtle that it goes unnoticed.

Objective tinnitus, which can be measured with external instruments, is rare, affecting less than 1% of people dealing with the condition.

The subjective version, audible only to the patient, is likely the result of hyperactivity in the section of the dorsal cochlear nucleus in the brainstem, where audio and other sensory data are processed.

This tinnitus is generally associated with aging and age-related hearing loss, and may appear and increase over time.

Surprisingly, this complaint affects a large portion of the population, with 25 million Americans, roughly 15% of the population, reporting some type of tinnitus.

Of these, 5 million suffer from chronic tinnitus, while 2 million face a form so severe that it becomes debilitating and life-altering.

It is worth noting that tinnitus is the main disability reported by military veterans, especially those who participated in combat.

A German study, based on an analysis of data from 15,000 individuals, revealed a significant relationship between tinnitus patients and higher levels of depression, anxiety and somatic disorders.

Published on Journal of Clinical Medicine In February 2023, the study highlighted that about 40% of individuals with tinnitus had higher levels of depression and anxiety, compared to 27% of those without tinnitus.

Surprisingly, patients seeking treatment for tinnitus were among those most affected, underscoring the need for effective approaches to mitigate these mental health effects.