Who Gets Tinnitus More: Men or Women?

Woman massaging jaw; tinnitus in women and men concept

Bottom line: More men get tinnitus, but women are more bothered by it.

Of course, it's never a straightforward journey.

In 2014, a study in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research reported that tinnitus is "significantly higher for males, and increased with age, doubling between the youngest and oldest age groups (males 13% and 26%; females 9% and 19% respectively). Of those with tinnitus, females were more likely to report bothersome tinnitus."

Another study also found that women are more annoyed by tinnitus and perceive more stress than men. "In addition, women scored lower than men in proactive coping, sense of coherence, and personal resources but had lower levels of hearing loss and tinnitus loudness than men did."

JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery published a study in 2016 confirming that tinnitus tends to be "more prevalent in men (10.5%) than women (8.8%), with no significant differences in severity between the 2 groups. Men were more likely than women to discuss tinnitus with their physician (52.8% vs 48.0%)."

Journalist Tyra Kristiansen Stave writes: "More men than women are affected by ear buzz, but the consequences are greater for women. Women also have a higher risk of severe hereditary tinnitus, according to a research project." That research project found "for instance, there were many indications that severe tinnitus increased the risk of suicide attempts among women, but not among men."

A small study in 2020 published in Frontiers in Psychology: Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience found that "women reporting more depression, anxiety and worries. Men, on the other hand, showed a higher need to control their thoughts. Additionally, our results indicate that men might have more coping problems with increasing levels of tinnitus distress, leading to increased depressive symptoms."

Men and women experience tinnitus differently, too: in addition to the noise, women tend to have jaw pain, while men have headaches.

And the annoyance factor changes too: "tinnitus annoyance was stronger in the middle-age groups of women and men (45-59 years of age) than in younger patients. Furthermore, the annoyance decreased again in older men (more than 60 years of age), but not in older women."

Try Eargasm Earplus

Comments

Can Allergies Cause Tinnitus?

The short answer is: Yes, allergies can cause tinnitus. Hearing loss, too. Allergy-related tinnitus is typically due to the congestion that allergies cause. Anything from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) to sinus infections increases the risk of developing tinnitus. Basically anything that affects the nasal and sinus passages can lead to tinnitus. That's because when allergies affect the nasal passages and sinuses, they can cause inflammation and swelling, leading to congestion and pressure changes in the ear. This pressure change can lead to tinnitus. Allergy meds can be a problem too Tinnitus can also be a side effect of certain medications used to treat allergies, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin. These medications can potentially cause tinnitus as a side effect, especially when taken in high doses. Other causes of tinnitus In addition to allergies, there are several other causes of tinnitus. In some cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of an u...

Medications Can Worsen Tinnitus Symptoms

Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears. Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin. In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list ...

Try Saline When Your Hearing Is Muffled After Loud Noise Exposure

If you've got temporary hearing loss or tinnitus after being at a loud concert or sports event, you may be able to fix it -- if you act fast. A 2021 Keck Medicine of USC study published in Science Daily has found that the nerve damage to the inner ear caused by loud noises is basically a build up of fluids. Treating that "fluid buildup with a readily available saline solution lessened nerve damage in the inner ear." A previous study by the same otolaryngologist showed that inner ear fluid level is not affected until noises reach 100 decibels, which is how loud a motorcycle is. "When researchers applied hypertonic saline, a salt-based solution used to treat nasal congestions in humans, into affected ears one hour after the noise exposure, both the immediate fluid buildup and the long-term nerve damage lessened, implying that the hearing loss could be at least partially prevented." The benefits of this knowledge are twofold: 1. If fluid buildup can be measured, ...

Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

Search This Blog