Tinnitus is a common and often misunderstood condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the perception of ringing, buzzing, or other phantom sounds in the ears, which can be constant or intermittent, and may range from mildly irritating to severely distressing.
Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of an external source, can manifest in various forms, impacting individuals’ quality of life. One less understood variation is somatic tinnitus.
How often do you encounter annoying and disturbing sounds? Repairs from neighbors, traffic outside the window, or subway noise can at times be very annoying, but they don’t last forever. In addition, you can always move to a new place where it’ll be quiet and peaceful. But imagine that acoustic stimuli that are constantly in your head or ears!
Healthy sleep is the key to human spiritual and physical health. On average, a person spends about a third of his life dreaming. The body rests and restores its strength during this time. This affects how the body will function during the day. In addition, the hormone melatonin is produced at night, which regulates many processes in our body.
Ringing in the ears has happened to everyone – maybe it was after a loud concert or party, or maybe during a home renovation.
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) assists healthcare providers in serving patients who have, or are learning to cope with, tinnitus. An estimated 40-50 million people in the United States experience tinnitus, 10-12 million of these individuals have sought help for their tinnitus and 2.5 million people report their tinnitus is debilitating (AAA, 2001).
