You Know when you’re viewing an action movie and the hero has a loud explosion close by and their ears begin to ring? Well, at least some level of minor brain trauma has likely happened to them.
To be certain, brain injuries aren’t the part that most action movies linger on. But that high-pitched ringing is something known as tinnitus. Tinnitus is most frequently talked about from the perspective of hearing loss, but it turns out that traumatic brain injuries like concussions can also lead to this particular ringing in the ears.
Concussions, after all, are one of the most common traumatic brain injuries that happen. And there are quite a few reasons concussions can happen (for example, falls, sporting accidents, and motor vehicle crashes). It can be a bit complicated sorting out how a concussion can cause tinnitus. Fortunately, treating and managing your conditions is typically very attainable.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a specific kind of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Think about it like this: your brain is situated pretty tightly inside 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 starts moving around in your skull. But your brain could wind up crashing into the inside of your skull because of the small amount of extra space in there.
This causes damage to your brain! Multiple sides of your skull can be impacted by your brain. And when this occurs, you experience a concussion. This example makes it quite clear that a concussion is literally damage to the brain. Symptoms of concussions include the following:
- A slow or delayed response to questions
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness and blurred vision
- Headaches
- Ringing in the ears
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of memory and confusion
Even though this list makes the point, it’s by no means exhaustive. Symptoms from a concussion can last anywhere between a few weeks and several months. When someone gets one concussion, they will normally make a full recovery. But, repeated or multiple concussions are a bigger problem (generally, it’s a good idea to avoid these).
How is tinnitus triggered by a concussion?
Is it actually possible that a concussion may impact your hearing?
The matter of concussions and tinnitus is an interesting one. Because it’s more correct to say that traumatic brain injuries (even mild ones) can cause tinnitus, It isn’t just concussions. Even minor brain injuries can result in that ringing in your ears. Here are a couple of ways that may take place:
- Damage to your hearing: For members of the armed forces, TBIs and concussions are often caused by proximity to an explosion. And explosions are very loud, the sound and the shock wave can harm the stereocilia in your ear, causing hearing loss and tinnitus. Tinnitus isn’t inevitably caused by a concussion, but they definitely do share some common causes.
- Nerve damage: A concussion may also cause injury to the nerve that is in charge of transmitting the sounds you hear to your brain.
- Disruption of communication: In some cases, the part of your brain that controls hearing can become damaged by a concussion. When this happens, the messages that get sent from your ear can’t be precisely processed, and tinnitus may happen consequently.
- Meniere’s Syndrome: The development of a condition known as Meniere’s Syndrome can be a consequence of a TBI. When pressure accumulates in the inner ear this condition can happen. Significant hearing loss and tinnitus can become an issue over time as a result of Menier’s disease.
- A “labyrinthine” concussion: When your TBI damages the inner ear this kind of concussion happens. This damage can cause inflammation and lead to both hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Interruption of the Ossicular Chain: The relaying of sound to your brain is aided by three bones in your ear. A significant impact (the type that can cause a concussion, for example) can push these bones out of position. Tinnitus can be caused by this and it can also disrupt your hearing.
Of course it’s significant to keep in mind that no two brain injuries are precisely alike. Every patient will receive personalized care and instructions from us. You should definitely contact us for an assessment if you think you might have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
When you get a concussion and tinnitus is the consequence, how can it be managed?
Usually, it will be a temporary scenario if tinnitus is the consequence of a concussion. After a concussion, how long can I expect my tinnitus to last? Well, it could last weeks or possibly months. But, it’s likely that your tinnitus is long lasting if it persists for more than a year. Over time, in these situations, treatment plans to manage your condition will be the optimal plan.
Here are some ways to accomplish this:
- Masking device: This device goes inside your ear a lot like a hearing aid, but it creates specific noises instead of making things louder. This noise is custom tailored to your tinnitus, overpowering the sound so you can focus on voices, or other sounds you actually want to hear.
- Therapy: Sometimes, patients can learn to ignore the sound by engaging in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). You disregard the sound after accepting it. This technique requires therapy and practice.
- Hearing aid: In a similar way to when you’re dealing with hearing loss not caused by a TBI, tinnitus symptoms seem louder because everything else is quieter. Hearing aids help your tinnitus go into the background by turning up the volume on everything else.
In some cases, additional therapies may be required to obtain the expected result. Management of the root concussion may be necessary in order to get rid of the tinnitus. Depending on the status of your concussion, there may be a number of possible courses of action. In this regard, an accurate diagnosis is key.
Consult us about what the right treatment plan might look like for you.
You can control tinnitus caused by a TBI
A concussion can be a significant and traumatic event in your life. When you get a concussion, it’s a bad day! And if your ears are ringing, you may ask yourself, why do I have ringing in my ears after a car accident?
It could be days later or instantly after the accident that tinnitus symptoms surface. However, it’s essential to remember that tinnitus after a head injury can be successfully managed. Schedule a consultation with us right away.