This past weekend at The NW Folklife Festival we received a lot of questions at our booth about Tinnitus, or as some people put it “ringing in your ears.” It is estimated that 50 million American’s experience Tinnitus each year. When Tinnitus occurs, you are preceiving sounds, although no external sounds exist. The exact physiological cause of Tinnitus is still unknown, however extensive research has shown that there are many factors that trigger or worsen the “sounds.” This includes: exposure to loud noises, head and neck trauma, certain disorders, certain tumors, wax build up, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular disease, and certain medications. In order to determine what is causing your Tinnitus it is important to visit your audiologist or physician, as Tinnitus is a symptom of something else that is going on in your body.
Video developed by the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at Portland VA Medical Center; funded by the Joint Incentive Fund (JIF)
For more information on Tinnitus contact us or visit the American Tinnitus Association.