Why Do I Hear White Noise? It May Be Tinnitus

You can hear a variety of different noises throughout the day. Some of them may be unexpected, and you might not be able to identify the source. Some sounds can seem like they’re inside your own ear or head or don’t seem to have any other clear source. There are all sorts of unusual sounds you could find yourself hearing, not understanding where they might be coming from.

One sound that some people find they experience is white noise. White noise is technically a neutral sound that people often listen to when they want help to fall asleep or relax. It can be used to help block out other sounds. Some people might associate white noise with static on a television.

However, sometimes it can feel like you’re hearing white noise without it coming from an external source. This is one way that people experience tinnitus, which is when you hear a sound that doesn’t have an external cause.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is when you hear a noise in your ears or head that isn’t coming from an external source. It can include a variety of noises, including humming, whooshing, ringing, throbbing, hissing or even music or singing. Some people hear white noise when they have tinnitus.

Tinnitus can come and go or it might be constant. It can be more noticeable at certain points in the day, such as when you go to bed and everything else is quiet. Tinnitus is really a symptom of something else and usually has an underlying cause. Sometimes this underlying cause is temporary, such as an ear infection. Tinnitus can also be chronic and may be connected to hearing loss or some other medical conditions.

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

Tinnitus has a strong connection to hearing loss. Most people who have chronic tinnitus also have hearing loss. Hearing loss is often age-related, but there are also other causes of hearing loss that can affect younger people.

Tinnitus can occur with hearing loss due to the tiny hairs in your cochlea becoming damaged. When your ears receive sound waves, these hairs move and trigger electrical signals, which are then interpreted by your brain as sound. But when they are damaged, which can happen as you age or due to exposure to loud noise, random electrical pulses can be sent to your brain, causing tinnitus.

When tinnitus is related to hearing loss, addressing the hearing loss can also help to treat the tinnitus. Additionally, some hearing aids have features that help to mask tinnitus while also treating the hearing loss.

Tinnitus can also have other causes, including illness, injury or some medications. If you have tinnitus, it’s important to see a hearing instrument specialist to find out what might be causing it. Some underlying causes can be successfully treated so that the tinnitus can be treated too.

How Is Tinnitus Treated?

If tinnitus has an underlying cause, such as an ear infection, it can sometimes be successfully treated. However, there is often no cure for tinnitus that will get rid of it completely. There are different ways tinnitus can be managed so that it doesn’t affect you as much.

There are several methods that might be used to help treat tinnitus. When tinnitus is related to hearing loss, hearing aids can help to relieve it. Another option for wearable technology is a masking device. These are worn in the ear, in a similar way to hearing aids and produce a low-level noise to help mask tinnitus. Ironically, white noise machines are also often helpful for treating tinnitus.

Counseling is a useful option to help treat tinnitus too. This helps you to reframe your reaction to tinnitus. When you get anxious and stressed about your tinnitus, it can make it worse. Tinnitus retraining therapy combines sound masking and counseling to help you learn to manage your tinnitus and notice it less.

Some people also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can teach you coping techniques that help you to feel less stressed by your tinnitus symptoms. Anxiety and depression are also often linked to tinnitus, and therapy can help with these too.

White noise is just one of the sounds you might hear if you have tinnitus. It could be the only sound you experience, or you might hear other sounds too. If you’re experiencing tinnitus, get in touch with a hearing instrument specialist for a hearing test.

Contact Belcher Hearing Aid Service to learn more about our services and discover how we can help you with hearing aids. Call us at (706) 407-4003 to discuss your needs.