Why Is Tinnitus Louder At Night?

With over 25 million Americans suffering from tinnitus, it has become one of the most common afflictions in the country.

Many people with tinnitus complain that it worsens during the nighttime hours, particularly when trying to get to sleep. But why is this? The answer, in short, is that many factors explain this phenomenon.

Having this ringing, buzzing, or swishing noise during the night is not a real noise but a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as permanent hearing loss or temporary hearing loss.

While many people might say that this condition worsening at night is an unsubstantiated story, there is more truth to it than you might think. To understand why your tinnitus increases when you try to sleep, you must know the hows and whys behind this usual medical condition.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus, in most cases, is a subjective condition – only heard by the person suffering from the ailment. In many cases, tinnitus (ringing, buzzining, roaring or hissising in the ear) is the first sign that a person’s hearing is endangered. It is not a disease or condition on its own but is a warning sign that something else is wrong. Tinnitus typically occurs in conjunction with hearing loss.

This phantom sound tells you that your hearing has changed. Hearing loss generally happens gradually, so people aren’t aware of it until it starts ringing or buzzing.

Tinnitus is a symptom of many medical conditions, including inner ear damage. It is one of the biggest puzzles in medical science. Scientists are not sure why it occurs, only what the ringing, buzzing or hissing usually means.

How does Tinnitus Occur?

Tinnitus often occurs because the inner ear’s hair cells cease to respond to sound waves, leaving the brain unable to receive messages about noise. Tinnitus usually happens when these hair cells are damaged or not functioning correctly.

A car horn or a person talking are examples of electrical messages your brain uses to translate what you hear into something you can understand.A ringing or buzzing noise is caused when there is no sound to interpret. The brain works hard to interpret the sound as messages, so it is confusing when the messages don’t arrive. It compensates by creating tinnitus.

This constant need for feedback from the ears does explain a few things. For one thing, it explains why this sound is a symptom of so many illnesses that affect hearing, from ear infections to age-related hearing loss. It’s also the reason some people hear their tinnitus louder at night.

So Why Is Tinnitus Louder at Night?

Even while you are not aware of it, your ears actively pick up certain sounds throughout the day. They pick up subtle noises like music playing or TV humming, even if there is no comprehension of them. At the very least, you can hear the sound of your voice during the entire day. But at night, most of these noises stop.

There is no noise at bedtime, and the brain is confused by that lack of sound. So the only thing the brain does in response is to create noise, even if it’s not real.Tinnitus can be made worse by being too quiet at night, so creating sound is the key to those unable to sleep due to ringing in their ears.

When you accept that tinnitus increases at night due to a lack of distractions to keep the brain active, the solution is obvious – create some. In some cases, a fan operating in the background is enough to alleviate tinnitus symptoms.

White noise machines simulate the sounds of nature like rain, ocean waves, or raindrops to help those who suffer from tinnitus fall asleep more quickly. The soft noise calms the tinnitus, but it isn’t distracting like leaving the TV on for hours would.

Seek Help for Tinnitus

It is important to remember that a lack of sound does not just cause tinnitus; it can also be caused by stress or certain medical conditions. Whatever the cause of your tinnitus, it is vital to see a doctor or audiologist to have your condition treated as soon as possible.

Leaving your tinnitus untreated could lead to further hearing loss, anxiety and depression, and an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

If you live in the Las Vegas area, consider using Hearing Associates of Las Vegas for all of your hearing needs. It is not too late to get back on track towards healthy hearing and drastically improve your quality of life today.