Tinnitus, commonly called "ringing in the ears", is believed to affect about 50 million Americans, most temporarily or at near tolerable levels. However, severe tinnitus can be very painful, preventing sleep and interfering with a normal life.
And it is a major health issue for large numbers of veterans of both Iraq and Afghanistan. Tinnitus was the most-claimed service-connected disability for veterans receiving compensation in fiscal year 2009-10, according to the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
The disorder can be the result of extreme noise exposure, such as that experienced by combat veterans, and is associated with hearing loss, which also is a common complaint from veterans.
Tinnitus happens when hairs in the inner ear move in relation to entering sound waves. Then an electrical signal is sent from the ear to the brain. The brain interprets these signals as sound. If the hairs inside the inner ear are bent or broken, this could cause tinnitus. It involves the sensation of hearing sound when no external sound is present. For many, the lack of noise can exacerbate the problem.
There isn't an effective surgery for tinnitus, so management is the best way to treat the condition. This can be done through aural rehabilitation and hearing aids. Unconventional therapies, such as acupuncture, can be more or less successful depending on the reason for the tinnitus. |