You know that scene in your favorite action movie where something explodes next to the hero and the sound gets all high-pitched-buzzing? Well, at least some degree of minor brain trauma has likely happened to them.
To be sure, brain injuries aren’t the bit that most action movies focus on. But that ringing in our hero’s ears signifies a condition called tinnitus. Tinnitus is most often talked about from the perspective of hearing loss, but actually, traumatic brain injuries such as concussions can also cause this particular ringing in the ears.
After all, one of the most common traumatic brain injuries is a concussion. And they can happen for numerous reasons (car crashes, sporting accidents, and falls, for example). How something such as a concussion triggers tinnitus can be, well, complex. But here’s the good news: even if you sustain a brain injury that triggers tinnitus, you can usually treat and manage your condition.
Concussions, exactly what are they?
A concussion is a particular form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Think about it this way: your brain is situated pretty tightly into your skull (your brain is large, and your skull is there to protect it). When something occurs and shakes the head violently enough, your brain begins moving around inside of your skull. But your brain could wind up smashing into the inside of your skull because of the small amount of extra space in there.
This hurts your brain! The brain can hit one or more sides of your skull. And this is what causes a concussion. When you picture this, it makes it simple to understand how a concussion is literally brain damage. Symptoms of concussions include the following:
- Confusion and loss of memory
- A slow or delayed response to questions
- Slurred speech
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness and blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
This list isn’t exhaustive, but you get the idea. A few weeks to several months is the normal duration of concussion symptoms. Brain injury from a single concussion is generally not permanent, most people will end up making a total recovery. However, repeated or multiple concussions are a different story (generally speaking, it’s a good idea to avoid these).
How do concussions trigger tinnitus?
Is it really possible that a concussion could affect your hearing?
It’s an interesting question: what is the link between concussions and tinnitus? After all, concussions are not the only brain traumas that can cause tinnitus symptoms. That ringing in your ears can be activated by even minor brain injuries. That might happen in a couple of ways:
- A “labyrinthine” concussion: When your TBI damages the inner ear this type of concussion happens. This damage can cause inflammation and lead to both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Disruption of communication: Concussion can, in some situations, damage the parts of the brain that manage hearing. Consequently, the signals sent from the ear to your brain can’t be precisely processed and tinnitus can be the outcome.
- Nerve damage: There’s also a nerve that is responsible for transmitting sounds you hear to your brain, which a concussion can harm.
- Interruption of the Ossicular Chain: There are three tiny bones in your ear that help transmit sounds to your brain. A major impact (the type that can cause a concussion, for example) can jostle these bones out of place. This can disrupt your ability to hear and result in tinnitus.
- Meniere’s Syndrome: The development of a condition known as Meniere’s Syndrome can be caused by a TBI. When pressure builds up in the inner ear this condition can happen. Eventually, Meniere’s syndrome can lead to noticeable tinnitus and hearing loss.
- Damage to your hearing: For members of the armed forces, TBIs and concussions are frequently caused by proximity to an explosion. Irreversible hearing loss can be caused when the stereocilia in your ears are damaged by the incredibly loud shock wave of an explosion. Tinnitus isn’t necessarily caused by a concussion, but they definitely do share some common causes.
Of course it’s significant to note that no two brain injuries are precisely alike. Every patient will receive individualized care and instructions from us. Indeed, if you think you have experienced a traumatic brain injury or a concussion, you should call us for an assessment right away.
How do you manage tinnitus caused by a concussion?
Typically, it will be a temporary scenario if tinnitus is the result of a concussion. How long can tinnitus last after a concussion? Weeks or months, sadly, could be the time frame. But, it’s likely that your tinnitus is long lasting if it persists for more than a year. In these situations, the treatment strategy transitions to controlling your symptoms over the long term.
This can be achieved by:
- Therapy: Sometimes, patients can learn to ignore the sound by undertaking cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). You acknowledge that the noise is there, and then disregard it. This technique requires therapy and practice.
- Masking device: This device is similar to a hearing aid, but instead of helping you hear things louder, it creates a specific noise in your ear. Your distinct tinnitus symptoms determine what sound the device will generate helping you ignore the tinnitus sounds and be better able to pay attention to voices and other external sounds.
- Hearing aid: Sometimes, tinnitus becomes prominent because the rest of the world takes a back seat (as is the case with non-TBI-caused hearing loss, everything else gets quieter, so your tinnitus seems louder). A hearing aid can help turn the volume up on everything else, ensuring that your tinnitus fades into the background.
In some cases, additional therapies might be necessary to obtain the desired result. Clearing up the tinnitus will often call for treatment to the root concussion. The right course of action will depend on the status of your concussion and your TBI. In this regard, a precise diagnosis is key.
Learn what the right plan of treatment may be for you by getting in touch with us.
You can manage tinnitus caused by a TBI
A concussion can be a significant and traumatic event in your life. When you get concussed, it’s a bad day! And if you’ve been in a car accident and your ears are ringing, you may wonder why.
It may be days later or immediately after the accident that tinnitus symptoms emerge. However, it’s important to remember that tinnitus after a head injury can be successfully managed. Schedule a consultation with us right away.