Approximately 50 million American people have experienced ringing in their ears, or tinnitus. Tinnitus is not a condition in and of itself, but rather a symptom of something else, and it is completely subjective, meaning the sound the patient perceives does not come from an external source but is generated within the patient’s brain. Because of these factors, tinnitus is liable to change over the course of the patient’s experience.
How Might Tinnitus Change?
If you suffer from tinnitus, you may be accustomed to it manifesting as a certain sound. Tinnitus is commonly described as a ring, beep, hum, whine, buzz, whoosh or roar, among many other descriptions. Perhaps your tinnitus has always sounded like a hum, but over time, it has become more shrill, like a ring. This is one way tinnitus might change.
Other aspects of tinnitus that could change include:
- Volume
- Pitch
- Triggers (e.g., triggered by something new or no longer being triggered by something that used to do so)
- What coping mechanisms work
Why Track Changes in Tinnitus?
Changes in tinnitus could indicate other health changes. For example, if your tinnitus is caused by loud noise exposure, changes in tinnitus could indicate that hearing loss is developing, or if your tinnitus is correlated with a cardiovascular condition, worsening tinnitus could point to a change in that condition, which might require medical attention. Tinnitus is also strongly correlated with stress; if your tinnitus is getting louder or triggering more frequently, it’s worth wondering if you’ve been under too much stress lately.
Tracking triggers and coping mechanisms is also valuable information because it can help you manage the condition. It’s incredibly valuable to know your triggers so you can avoid or minimize them, and it’s also valuable to track what coping mechanisms worked and which ones didn’t.
How to Track Tinnitus Changes?
A great place to start tracking your tinnitus symptoms is by keeping a tinnitus journal or diary. There are specialized tinnitus journals available, but you can also make do with a basic spiral notebook. You could even go to a stationery store and get a fun, fancy journal!
Use this journal every time you have a tinnitus episode. Write down any information about the episode that you think might be important, such as the sound, pitch, volume, what you were doing at the time and how long the episode lasted. Make note of what may have triggered it and how you dealt with it. Did it help? All of this information will be useful later.
The Benefits of Journaling
It has long been observed that writing things down helps the human brain remember information and draw connections. While you may think you have a good idea of what your triggers are or what coping mechanisms work, writing them down in this manner may help you see patterns that you’d overlooked before.
Writing things down also allows you to take a longer view of your condition. Sometimes, changes in tinnitus happen very slowly, and you may not realize that (for example) the volume or pitch has been changing until you begin writing it down and making entries over the course of several months.
Another benefit is having a written record to show an audiologist. If you haven’t had a tinnitus evaluation before, this journal will contain useful information that you can show to the audiologist to give them a clear picture into your tinnitus and how you’re experiencing it, give clues to what might be causing it and start the discussion on tinnitus management techniques.
We highly recommend keeping a tinnitus journal, whether you’ve started a tinnitus management journey with us already or if you’re just starting out. If you need help with your tinnitus, call Sound Advice today.