Sound Advice

Is Tinnitus Keeping You Awake at Night?

Many who suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) report that their tinnitus is worse when they are lying in the bed attempting to fall asleep. However, several studies have shown that the actual intensity (loudness) of the tinnitus does not vary much throughout the day. What is changing is how noticeable the tinnitus is to the patient. There are typically very few environmental sounds to mask (or cover) your tinnitus when lying in bed. Therefore, the brain has fewer stimuli to attend to and so the brain tends to focus more on the tinnitus, making it more intrusive during this time. It is necessary to note that the tinnitus is not in itself likely to prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. It is the time spent worrying about the tinnitus and the extra attention to it during this quiet time that can lead to disturbance of normal sleep patterns. In bed, consequently, you have plenty of time to lie there and notice your tinnitus!

There are many things that you can do to minimize the effect of tinnitus on your sleeping. Using environmental sounds such as a handheld fan, sound generators or tabletop waterfall may help you to get to sleep. It is also beneficial to get regular exercise throughout the day so that once you get into bed you are quite tired. You can take a warm bath or have a hot drink (non-caffeinated, of course) before lying down. You may even enjoy performing relaxing activities, such as meditation or listening to pleasant as well.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or request a free information packet, please contact us at (770) 425-1095