A Link between Tinnitus, Anxiety, and Sleep Issues

The experiences of tinnitus are as varied as the lives we live. The most common and general report of tinnitus is a “ringing” in the ears, and indeed the Latin root word tinnire means “to ring.”

However, the type of ringing can be quite different with some people hearing a high-pitched haze while others hear individual tones rising to their awareness and then gradually fading away. Many others don’t associate tinnitus with ringing at all. Some describe buzzing or whirring, while others hear what they describe as the sound of electrical static.

In addition to the wide range of sounds experienced, those with tinnitus vary greatly in terms of severity and duration of the symptoms. Some find that they are mildly annoyed by a persistent sound, particularly in very quiet settings, while others find the sound unbearable.

Let’s take this opportunity to consider the experiences of some people whose tinnitus is so severe that it produces anxiety and can even prevent a person from getting sleep. Although not all tinnitus cases have this magnitude, hearing protection is the best way to prevent tinnitus from getting to the point that it inhibits sleep and peace of mind.

Tinnitus and Anxiety

Many describe a connection between tinnitus and a general sense of unease. The Mayo Clinic reports that 15% to 20% of people have some form of tinnitus, but some of these are temporary or seem to come and go. If you have been to a loud concert or sporting event, you might have noticed ringing in your ears upon leaving the event, especially when you came back to a quiet place like your bed before going to sleep.

Now, magnify that feeling and you will have a sense of the experience of someone with severe tinnitus, such as that following exposure to loud blasts. The slight sense of unease experienced with temporary ringing in the ears can become serious and ongoing anxiety for those who cannot escape the persistent sound, particularly when that tinnitus is associated with a traumatic event.

Military veterans have especially high rates of tinnitus, and the Veterans Administration health care system is one of the largest employers of audiologists in the world. Those who have had loud blasts in training or in active duty have high rates of tinnitus, and that sound can become psychologically linked to traumatic experiences.

Tinnitus and Sleep Issues

One of the problems with tinnitus is that the quiet environment that is usually conducive to sleep is also precisely the kind of environment that can make tinnitus unavoidable. Without any competing sound, a person can only hear that ringing, buzzing, or whirring sound, and the distraction can become too severe to be able to fall asleep.

As you might expect, the compounded issues of sleep deprivation and anxiety can form a feedback loop with one another, and those who are anxious about the inability to sleep find it even more difficult to do so. Some have found solutions with everyday household objects, such as the whirring sound of a box fan, or specially designed white noise machines that produce a wide spectrum of frequencies that can drown out the internal sound of tinnitus. Still others find it helpful to turn on a television or to play quiet music that gives the mind something to subtly latch onto and to ease anxiety about sleeplessness.

Some say that it can be helpful to turn on a movie or television show that they have already seen at a very quiet volume, so that they are not tempted to find out what happens next. Although these solutions work for some people, others find the competing sound too distracting to be able to sleep, as well.

Seeking Treatment for Tinnitus

If you have tinnitus and are suffering from anxiety or sleep issues, contact us to learn more about newly available solutions. Some of the latest models of hearing aids make it possible to produce a quiet range of tones that in effect cancel out the sound of tinnitus, and many people have found relief from these forms of tinnitus treatment. Contact us to find out more about the options that are right for you.