Tinnitus is the unpleasant symptom that creates a ringing or buzzing in your ear with no identifiable source. If you’re among the 50 million people in the United States with tinnitus, you might have heard that tinnitus changes when the seasons do. Let’s look at a few reasons this change may happen, and what you can do to alleviate your symptoms.
Why Does Tinnitus Change With the Seasons?
There are two reasons why you might notice a shift in your tinnitus when the seasons change:
- Allergies. Late summer and fall mark the end of grass pollen season and the beginning of ragweed season. Allergies cause inflammation in the throat, nose and sinuses. In some cases, that inflammation can shift to the ear via the Eustachian tube. When inflamed, the middle ear can fill with fluid (ear infection) or have trouble equalizing pressure (Eustachian tube dysfunction)—both of which may cause or aggravate tinnitus. People who are allergic to ragweed may notice their symptoms worsening, while those who aren’t may experience a reduction in symptoms as grass pollen season comes to an end.
- Stress. Fall holidays and school exam periods can create extra stress. Unfortunately, stress can also contribute to the development and worsening of tinnitus. You may notice tinnitus flare-ups during extra busy weeks or after stressful social events.
While allergies and stress may exacerbate tinnitus, there are ways you can manage it for a better fall.
How Can I Manage My Tinnitus?
Tinnitus has no known cure, but there are a few ways you can manage it:
- Take allergy medication. Allergy medication isn’t a direct management tool for tinnitus, but it can reduce the inflammation that causes allergy-related flare-ups.
- Destress. The holidays are an exciting time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their stressful moments. Your schedule is likely jam-packed with activities, but try to make time for yourself. Read a book, take a Powerflow Yoga class, go to bed early or watch a little TV to destress.
- Try sound masking. Sound masking reduces your awareness of tinnitus by covering the internal ringing with a calming, external noise. You can use a sound machine, fan, tinnitus app or hearing aids to try sound masking.
- Consider counseling. Tinnitus retraining therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy are two standard counseling approaches to reduce your negative associations with the internal ringing.
If you’re dealing with tinnitus and aren’t sure how to manage it, contact Speech & Hearing Associates to schedule an evaluation with one of our specialists.