Insomnia has negative impact on tinnitus sufferers

Insomnia has negative impact on tinnitus sufferers

By Liz Lockhart

We have reported in the past on the connection between tinnitus and anxiety and/or depression.  Many people who suffer from a mental health disorder have the added discomfort of ringing in the ears.

It is estimated that more than 36 million people suffer from tinnitus.  A new study, undertaken by the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, suggests that insomnia can have a negative effect on this condition which causes a sufferer to be plagued by chronic ringing, hissing, buzzing or clicking in the head and ears.

The study demonstrates that patients with insomnia report greater emotional distress as a result of tinnitus.  It also shows a significant association between insomnia and the severity of tinnitus.

The study co-author, Kathleen L. Yaremchuk M.D., is the Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford.  She says ‘Tinnitus involves cognitive, emotional and psycho-physiological processes, which can result in an increase in a patient’s distress.  Sleep complaints, including insomnia, in these patients may result in a decrease in their tolerance to tinnitus.’

The precise cause of tinnitus is unknown although there are several conditions that can be triggers for the condition.   These include loud noises, wax build-up in the ear, ear or sinus infections and head and/or neck trauma.  Earlier studies have demonstrated a strong association between tinnitus and psychological disorders.

Dr. Yaremchuk worked with Dr. George Miguel and a team of researchers to conduct a study of 117 patients who were treated at Henry Ford between 2009 and 2011.  The researchers gathered information from patients using telephone and written interviews.  They assessed them by using the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ) which determines the emotional effects that tinnitus has had on a person’s lifestyle and general well-being. They also used a brief screening measure for insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

They found that the greater the insomnia disability, the more severe the patient’s complaints were with regard to the tinnitus.  ‘Treating patients with tinnitus is challenging.  A chronic tinnitus patient presents a challenging and clinical picture that may include anxiety, depression, annoyance or self-reported emotional distress.  And one of the most frequent self-reported complaints of tinnitus patients is getting to sleep,’ noted Dr. Yaremchuk.

The study further suggests that this is proof that evaluation and treatment of insomnia patients with tinnitus may reduce the symptom severity of the tinnitus.