Tinnitus is more than a ringing in your ear

Tinnitus is often described as “a ringing in the ear”, but in reality, it's far more complex than that.

Based on our scientific research, we see tinnitus as an interplay between the hearing and the brain. It's not just about the ears, but also about how the brain processes, interprets, and responds to sound.

Why does tinnitus occur?

Our brain is constantly actively interpreting signals from the outside world. When hearing decreases, for example due to hearing damage, the brain receives fewer sound signals than expected.

The brain tries to fill in that missing information on its own, as it were. This can cause a phantom sound: tinnitus. So the sound is not “imagined”, but is really perceived by the brain.

You can compare it to someone who suddenly starts noticing every little noise in a quiet room. As it were, the brain “searches” harder for sound.

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Why does tinnitus sometimes persist?

In some people, tinnitus disappears spontaneously. In others, it remains present because different brain networks become involved in the sound.

The brain can then begin to regard tinnitus as an important signal. As a result:

• the focus is constantly on the sound

• relaxing becomes more difficult

• mental fatigue occurs

• concentration problems can occur

• does stress increase frequently

The more attention and emotional tension are linked to the sound, the stronger tinnitus is often experienced.

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Why does one person experience little trouble and the other a lot?

Not everyone with tinnitus experiences the same discomfort.

That's because it's not just the sound itself that matters, but also how the brain responds to it.

In some people, the brain succeeds in shifting the sound more into the background. For others, the brain's alarm system remains active, so tinnitus is constantly at the forefront.

Stress, fatigue, anxiety and emotional strain can therefore clearly intensify tinnitus.

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Why does tinnitus often worsen when stressed?

Stress has a direct influence on the brain and the auditory system.

When someone is under stress for a long time, brain networks become more sensitive and alert. As a result, tinnitus can feel louder or more intrusive.

Many patients therefore notice that their tinnitus increases during:

• stressful periods

• sleep deprivation

• emotional load

• overstimulation

• tiredness

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Is tinnitus just an ear problem?

No.

Although tinnitus often starts after hearing damage, modern insights show that different areas of the brain are involved in:

• perceiving the sound

• attention to tinnitus

• the emotional response to it

• ability to ignore the sound

That's why we don't just look at tinnitus from the ear, but from the entire nervous system and brain networks.

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Our view on tinnitus

At BRAI3N, we see tinnitus as a complex neurological disorder in which various systems in the brain become disrupted.

This also means that tinnitus can be different for each patient.

Some people mainly experience the sound themselves, while others are particularly affected by:

• stress

• insomnia

• concentration problems

• tiredness

• anxiety or overstimulation

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That's why we believe in a personalized approach that looks at the overall picture of the patient.

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