Sound Advice

Does a Lack of Sleep Affect Tinnitus?

Sleep is a very important function that allows our bodies to restore both mentally and physically. However, most individuals who suffer from tinnitus (sounds heard in the ear or head that are not created by an external stimulus) report sleep problems, including insomnia. Insomnia refers to a chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time. People who experience insomnia often wake up without feeling rested. Tinnitus and insomnia exacerbate each other. In other words, a lack of adequate sleep makes tinnitus worse and tinnitus makes it difficult to get adequate sleep. Although tinnitus starts in the ear, it is actually perceived in the brain. When you sleep, the brain does not simply shut off. There are changes in how the nerves in the brain fire (or respond). Nerve firing patterns constantly change throughout the sleep cycle and dictate the stage of sleep. Because of the changes in nerve firing, perceptual changes of the tinnitus may occur. This may explain why some individuals wake up with their tinnitus being especially loud or totally absent. More research needs to be done to look at exactly how neuronal changes during sleep affect tinnitus.

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