Peter studied hearing aid fitting at the world headquarters of Starkey Labs. He was able to have hands on training with the company’s founder, Bill Austin. He has also undergone advanced training in the smallest, nearly invisible style hearing aids, and has expanded his education by traveling to Denmark to learn directly from European hearing aid manufacturers. He continues to attend conferences and training seminars to stay current on the rapidly evolving world of hearing aid technology.
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Do you ever find that when you are finally in a quiet place finding time to rest and reflect a buzzing appears in your ear which seems to be coming from your own head? This is tinnitus and is incredibly common. More than 50 million Americans experience tinnitus, and nearly 20 million of those cases are considered chronic, according to the American Tinnitus Association. This makes up an estimated 32 percent of the U.S. population, according to National Center for Health Statistics studies. The prevalence of tinnitus increases to 70-85 percent in the hearing-impaired population. When tinnitus comes and goes it can be frustrating and cause unwanted stress. However, for the 20 million people in the US who report chronic and burdensome tinnitus, it can bring on chronic stress, anxiety, sleep issues and problems staying focused during the day.
What Causes Tinnitus?
There is still no official consensus on what causes tinnitus. However, because of the high rates of hearing loss in people who report tinnitus, a common theory is that the two conditions are closely related. The most common theory revolves around damage to the inner ear – specifically the tiny hair-like cells which are the sole delivery system for audio information to the brain. These cells are called stereocilia are prone to damage from chronic ear infections, exposure to excessive noise, impact to the head, and more. When these cells become damaged, they can interrupt the sound delivered to the brain. In addition it’s believed that damage to the stereocilia can cause them to send an unintentional signal to the brain—a feedback of sorts, which the brain interprets as the symptoms of tinnitus.
Hearing Loss and Painkiller Use
One source of damage to the inner ear is due to ototoxic medications. Ototoxic medications consist of chemicals which affect the stereocilia of the inner ear. You may be surprised what medications can affect your hearing and tinnitus. Some are very common household medications purchased over the counter. While a good share of ototoxic medications includes certain antibiotics and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, some may be as common as Tylenol and ibuprofen. New data analysis from the large Nurses’ Health Study II found that women who reported frequent use of certain over-the-counter painkillers were more likely to report a history of tinnitus.
Study of Over-the-Counter Painkillers and Tinnitus
The longitudinal study examined the overlap between women who take common OTC pain relievers and compared this with a history of tinnitus. The over the counter pain killers included aspirin and acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs like naproxen. “Frequent use” was defined as daily use of these drugs. The study determined that:
- Every day use of aspirin was connected with a 16 percent higher risk of tinnitus among women aged younger than 60 but not affecting women past this age.
- Every day use of NSAIDs or acetaminophen was connected with an almost 20 percent higher risk of developing tinnitus.
- Use of prescription-only COX-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex, two or more days per week) of was found to cause a 20 percent higher risk of developing tinnitus.
Ototoxic Drugs can be Harmful to Hearing
It’s common to struggle with chronic pain and discomfort as we age associated with chronic arthritis, osteoporosis and other health concerns connected to aging. To treat chronic pain it’s tempting and far too easy to self-medicate using over the counter painkillers to reduce swelling and discomfort. However, it’s important to monitor your use and talk to your doctor about alternatives.
“OTC analgesics clearly have benefits with short-term use. However, frequent use of these medications and use over long periods of time may increase the risk of tinnitus and may cause other adverse health effects,” explains lead author Sharon Curhan, MD, ScM, of the Brigham’s Channing Division of Network Medicine. “Therefore, it is important to take these medications mindfully and to limit their use as much as possible, and to discuss any change in medication use, whether prescription or non-prescription, with your health-care provider.”
Addressing Tinnitus
If you’ve been struggling with tinnitus and you think it may be connected to over-the-counter painkiller use, it’s important to consult with your doctor now. In addition, we can offer several treatments to make reduce your stress around hearing issues and mask tinnitus symptoms. To find out more make an appointment with us today for a hearing exam.