That ringing, hissing or humming sound in your ear that nobody else can hear has a name, and it’s far more common than most people realize. Tinnitus affects more than 50 million American adults, according to the American Tinnitus Association, and for 5 million of them the sound is chronic, meaning it never really stops. Here on the Suncoast, where plenty of us spent years around boat motors, lawn equipment and concert speakers, that’s a lot of neighbors.
Part of what makes tinnitus so frustrating is that it defies easy answers. Audiologist Goutham Gosu says the condition is difficult to measure because it’s a sound the patient perceives, not one a device can record. The possible causes are wide-ranging: earwax, hearing loss, blood pressure, TMJ, dental issues, or, in rare cases, a benign tumor called acoustic neuroma. Loud occupations such as music and military service raise the risk. And there is no cure, only management. Hearing aids can help mask the sound, which is one reason patient Ken Seibert, who has lived with tinnitus for 30 years, has worn them for about two decades.
Audiologists say the practical move is simple: if ringing shows up two or three times a week, get your ears checked. Some causes are easy to treat, and even when they aren’t, there are options that make the sound more livable. If you or someone in your family deals with this, what has actually helped? Drop your experience in the comments and help a neighbor out.
