Dealing with the sound that only you hear

A noise, beep, or whistle in your ear forever. How would you respond to it? Tinnitus, often described as ringing in the ears, is a complex disorder that profoundly affects the daily lives of many. A sound that you hear, but that doesn't exist anywhere else but in your own brain. For some, it sounds like crickets chirping, for others it sounds like a rushing sea. This invisible sound, which is only heard by the person, can range from a mild irritation to an overwhelming experience that has serious consequences for personal well-being. In the Netherlands, as many as 1 to 2 million people experience this every day. However, there is no cure yet. But what can you do if tinnitus causes panic or helplessness to affect your life? How do you learn to deal with it? In this blog, we explain tinnitus, the possible causes and, above all, ways to learn to live with it.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is often described as ringing in the ears, but it goes far beyond that. It can be a beep, hum, whistle, or even a more complex sound that is present constantly or intermittently. For some, it sounds like a stream of water, for others it sounds like the sound of electricity wires. What's important to know is that tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom. It can result from hearing damage, exposure to loud noises, stress, or even psychological overload.

This perception of sound can be temporary or permanent, and the intensity varies from person to person.

More and more millennials are struggling with hearing damage (or tinnitus) caused by music in their leisure time. Such a constant loud ringing in your ear is of course very annoying.

We found this interesting video from the Dagblad van het Noorden about tinnitus. How do people react to hearing those tinnitus?

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Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of tinnitus is often difficult to determine, but factors such as exposure to loud noises, age-related hearing loss, and certain medical conditions are known to play a role. The importance of hearing protection in noisy environments cannot be overstated, as prevention is key to reducing the risk of developing tinnitus. For example, you can do this with otoplastics (custom made earplugs).

Tinnitus can have far-reaching consequences for daily life. The constant noises can lead to difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and an increased risk of anxiety and depression disorders. Understanding this impact is essential for people living with tinnitus as well as those close to them.

The impact of tinnitus

Tinnitus has a varying impact on people's lives. Some people experience it as a slight nuisance, others are unable to sleep or even feel anxious or depressed. A quarter of people with chronic tinnitus are seriously affected, while the majority (around 75%) learn how to deal with it without being a major problem. Fortunately, there are ways to regain control even though no curative treatment is available.

Learning to live with tinnitus

Dealing with tinnitus is mainly about finding peace and relaxation. Here are some tips that might help:

• Relaxation exercises
  Breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation can relieve tension and divert attention away from tinnitus.
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• Sports and exercise
  Staying active can help to distract your mind and reduce stress.
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• Find support
  Talk to others who also have tinnitus. Understanding your environment can ease the burden and provide practical tips. Many meetings and discussion groups are available online.
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• Avoid silence
  A quiet environment reinforces the tinnitus sound. Soft background music or a soothing sound can help distract attention from tinnitus.

What are tinnitus treatment methods?

Although there is no cure, there are several treatment options that can provide relief. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for example, is a proven method for better dealing with tinnitus. This therapy teaches you how to deal with the sounds differently, so that they become less annoying. In addition, there are audiological aids and masks that can obscure the sound.

A healthy lifestyle, including stress management, can also help manage symptoms.

Tinnitus and prevention: prevention is better than cure

A large proportion of tinnitus cases result from hearing damage caused by loud noises. By lowering sound volumes and properly protecting your hearing at concerts, festivals and in the work environment, you can reduce the risk. Protecting your hearing plays a crucial role in preventing tinnitus. Using otoplastics in noisy environments, limiting exposure to loud noises, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are all effective ways to reduce the risk of tinnitus.

Experts foresee a wave of tinnitus patients, according to reports from SafetyNL. Protect yourself with otoplastics. Because once you have tinnitus, you'll never get rid of it.

Tinnitus is a challenge that requires attention, not only from the medical community but also from the public. By being aware of the causes, the impact, and the treatments available, we can create a supportive environment for those affected by this condition. Protect your hearing and take steps to improve your wellbeing; it's an investment in your future health.

Tinnitus doesn't have to take over your life. Although it can be challenging, it appears that with the right approach, most people learn to deal with the constant noises. It's about finding a balance, getting support, and protecting your hearing for the future.

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Absenteeism due to tinnitus

Workers with tinnitus, a type of hearing problem characterized by tinnitus, face significant challenges in their work. From the brochure 'Hearing problems at work“health insurer CZ shows that this group of employees is not only at increased risk of work-related accidents — up to 25% more likely compared to colleagues who hear well — but is also more likely to suffer from absenteeism. This is mainly due to the increased levels of stress and fatigue that tinnitus brings. The brochure also highlights a significant economic impact, with estimated costs of missed working days and loss of productivity up to 4.8 billion per year. This underlines the importance of awareness, prevention and an adequate approach to hearing problems in the workplace, both for employee health and safety and for the company's economic prosperity.

Around ten to fifteen percent of people have tinnitus. Tinnitus can be experienced in a variety of ways. One person hears a buzzing sound, the other one hears a beep or a ringtone. The sound can vary or be present all the time, and it can be loud or soft. Some people suffer a lot, while others have hardly any symptoms. There is currently no treatment to make tinnitus disappear.

How do we prevent more generations from suffering from tinnitus and what does this mean for our economy?

More than two million Dutch people now have tinnitus and experts fear that another wave of patients will be added.
While the impact on individual well-being is alarming, experts are now also sounding the alarm about the potential economic damage caused by this growing wave of patients.

The rising prevalence of tinnitus not only affects healthcare costs, but also affects the labor market. Many people with tinnitus experience problems such as loss of concentration, sleep disorders and anxiety, which negatively affects their performance in the workplace. This leads to an increase in absenteeism and reduced productivity, which ultimately results in economic losses for companies and society as a whole.

Economic costs of tinnitus estimated at 8.5 billion euros

Health economist Wim Groot says in the NPO program The Stand of the Netherlands that he estimates the economic cost of tinnitus at 8.5 billion euros. In doing so, he is based on the RIVM figures on the number of people with tinnitus who are in a care process. In the broadcast of De Stand van Nederland on Saturday, February 27, the focus was on tinnitus caused by loud music when going out. Especially among millennials, what the program focuses on, this is the main cause.
Tinnitus often disappears on its own after exposure to loud music, but it can also remain permanently. If you listen to loud music or noise regularly, tinnitus can become chronic.

According to Wim Groot, the biggest cost is caused by the loss of quality of life. In addition, according to him, it also causes health care costs of up to 1.4 billion. In addition, people with tinnitus also fall out at work because of the burden they experience. This can be temporary, but also permanent. The professor estimates the loss of labour productivity that it involves at 1.1 billion.

Around ten to fifteen percent of people have tinnitus. Tinnitus can be experienced in a variety of ways. One person hears a buzzing sound, the other one hears a beep or a ringtone. The sound can vary or be present all the time, and it can be loud or soft. Some people suffer a lot, while others have hardly any symptoms. There is currently no treatment to make tinnitus disappear.

Don't you wear otoplastics when going out? Then the risk of hearing damage is high.

More and more people are enjoying the nightlife with earplugs to prevent hearing damage, but there should be even more awareness about it.
Research by Stand van Nederland shows that 18.8 percent use earplugs in entertainment venues. 22.8 percent say they sometimes do this, but 37.8 percent say they never use hearing protection when going out.

Our partner Alpine Hearing Protection creates otoplastics. They also see that it has become less and less taboo to wear earplugs when going out. “When you look around at a festival now, you see a lot of people walking around wearing earplugs. It has become part of the standard equipment you take with you when you go out,” says CFO Pieter Brascamp. He emphasizes that the earplugs are not at the expense of the music experience. “You can still hear the music well.” Otoplastics have a filter that ensures that all pitches sound exactly like the real music. “Just a little bit softer.”

It is clear that tinnitus is not only a health problem, but also an economic challenge. To reduce this growing burden, experts are calling for investments in research into tinnitus prevention, diagnosis and treatment.