COPENHAGEN (Dispatches) -- Researchers have found that the more traffic noise people are exposed to in their homes, the more they are at risk of developing tinnitus.
In a recent study, researchers from the Department of Clinical Research and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) found correlation between traffic noise and risk of developing tinnitus. They pointed to a vicious cycle involving stress reactions and sleep disturbance as a potential cause.
In their data, they found more than 40,000 cases of tinnitus and could see that for every ten decibels more noise in people’s home, the risk of developing tinnitus increased by six percent.
The researchers believe that noise at nighttime can be even worse for health.
Tinnitus is a subjective experience of sound that does not come from an external source. It can be described as a ringing, buzzing, humming or other form of sound in the ears or in the head. Tinnitus can be a symptom of an underlying disease or injury, but can also be idiopathic, which means the cause is not known. Very often tinnitus occurs in connection with hearing loss. Tinnitus can have a negative impact on quality of life as it can cause sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and depression. There are several possibilities to reduce tinnitus symptoms, including psychological treatment and hearing aids.