My seasonal tinnitus spiked this weekend in my left ear offering a steady buzz like an electrical hum, accompanied by a reduction in my hearing and some dizziness. At first I wondered if my hearing aid was making the sound, but when I removed it, the disturbance grew louder since it was no longer obscured by ambient noise.
I knew then that the sound was of my own invention—taking up unwanted residence in my ears and mind. Meditation usually helps me keep my tinnitus under control, but sometimes pesky noise still breaks through. Usually my tinnitus flares up in the transition to winter.
Seasonal Tinnitus is Real
Many of my other posts on tinnitus that describe a flare up in ringing or vertigo were written in the winter, particularly in the transition to the colder months. I began wondering if the severity of my tinnitus was seasonal, fueled by a return to cooler temperatures, changes in barometric pressure and humidity levels, and my overall activity and happiness levels.
I did some digging and found a research study that supports the idea of seasonality in tinnitus. Published in 2015 by European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, it examined the google search history for the word “tinnitus” and found seasonal effects in several countries.
The study concluded, “Our findings indicate that there are significant seasonal trends for Internet search queries for tinnitus, with a zenith in winter months.” Perhaps this spike in searches means more people suffer with tinnitus in colder weather.
Why Seasonal Tinnitus is Common in the Winter
This makes sense since many of the things associated with winter are also linked to tinnitus.
1. Colds and flu
The increased congestion and sinus pressure that accompanies a head cold often takes a toll on my hearing. With fewer ambient sounds getting through, my tinnitus is probably more noticeable.
2. Frigid weather
When temperatures drop, your ears produce more wax, perhaps as a way of protecting their inner workings from the cold. Excess wax can block the ear canal, muffling your hearing and making the ringing more noticeable. Keeping your ears warm with earmuffs when out in the weather may help prevent this.
3. Less physical activity
I practice yoga all winter, but I don’t take as many walks as I do in warmer times of the year. I imagine most people are more sedentary in the cold. Reduced activity levels can lead to higher blood pressure, which is sometimes associated with tinnitus.
4. More coffee
It is hard to wake up when the sky is still dark in the morning, which may lead to an increase in caffeine consumption. Higher caffeine intake is often thought to exacerbate tinnitus.
5. Stress and depression
Many people suffer from seasonal depression in the winter due to more limited sun exposure. Stress can also spike as work and school commitments increase compared to the more care-free days of summer. The demands of the holiday season can add to this feeling for some. Stress and depression are highly linked to tinnitus, although it is debatable which one causes the other.
What Can Help with Seasonal Tinnitus?
To combat my recent tinnitus spike, I have been working to stay warm, calm and away from germs. I certainly don’t want a head cold on top of it all!
Soft background music is helping me drown out the buzz during the day and deep breathing is helping me fall asleep. I hope that like in the past, this will be a temporary setback.
Readers, does your tinnitus spike in the winter?
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Talk about a timely blog! I was all ready to call my ENT today because of the ‘whirring’ sound I’ve been getting over the past week in my left ear. I was thinking it had something to do with the wicked sinus infection I had 3 weeks ago. I had very red eyes, my eyes were closing up partially and the sinuses were all puffy under my eyes. A week of prednisone got rid of it, but it got me thinking that the infection caused something in my ears. I never knew seasonality was a possible trigger as well. Thanks Shari for the education.
Mike
Glad it was helpful. You might want to call your ENT anyway just in case. It never hurts to get any changes checked. Thanks for your comment.
Yes it is much worse for me in the winter time. But like you said as long as I can keep active I can keep it down. But right now I have a cold and it is really running me nuts with the white noise.
I am sorry you are suffering. I hope it will be back to “normal” soon. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Hmm, interesting blog. Can’t say that I’ve noticed so much in winter. When I first started wearing hearing aids years back I noticed almost immediately how they helped with my tinnitus straight away during the day time. I also noticed just how much worse my tinnitus seemed as soon as took them out on a night.
Still do
My hearing aids help me with my tinnitus too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I what kind of hearing aids do you use to help your tinnitus I have hearing aids that do not help my tinnitus there made my widex the do not help
I wear Lyric hearing aids that help a lot because they are extended wear. Your audiologist might have some suggestions for you. Good luck!
I’d like to add another cause to the list of increased tinnitus and hearing issues , menopause (it only applies for women of course ) ! Being a woman in her 50s is one rough ride with hearing loss . I’ve had bouts of vertigo and dizziness that I could barely walk , along with diminished hearing , intolerance to loud noise and yes , increased tinnitus. Not fun !
That does not seem fun at all. Thanks for sharing the information. Knowledge is power.
This is so very true! I always notice my tinnitus more when the weather starts changing, just as I do during summer storms. And I have noticed it within the last week as we have had a big drop into cold! My dad experiences the same.
Unfortunately I will be without my aids for a short time while they are sent off for routine maintenance, etc…next week. I know I will notice it during the holiday times of gathering with family (and ours tends to get super chatty!). I’ll just have to keep in mind my “cheats” that help in conversation.
Glad to know I am not alone in this. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I would love to hear about other people who can not stand the sound of music. I have played the piano all my life and now there is no way I can stand it. I take my aids out ..put in swimming plugs and hear no sound. I play away just to exercise my fingers.
So sorry to hear this. Anyone else have this issue?
Music does my head in too. Can’t hear a tune only a screech. Same if I take hearing aids out. No more concerts for me.
I think changes in barometric pressure can also affect tinnitus . As we age , nothing works right, especially our ears .
Yes, I think pressure can be important as well. Thanks for sharing your insights.
I had all my teeth removed in the beginning of the month. Shortly after a severe inner ear infection. Then all these clicking popping noises. It’s only been about 3 weeks, so I can’t say if it’s just in the winter. It drives me crazy these noises!
I am so sorry you are having all this trouble. Why did you have your teeth removed?
I also suffer fro tinnitus. It’s been over 10 years now but it has flared up last week. I did have a cold last month.
I am sorry to hear you are suffering. Tinnitus flare ups are no fun. Have you tried meditation as a way to counteract the flareups?
i haven’t seen a doctor yet but I am thinking of going to a doctor so I can get referred to an ENT.
It is always a good idea to check with a doctor. Good luck to you.
Dry air associated with winter could also be a contributing factor I believe.
Possibly. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I have had tinnitus for 15 years and often felt that winter months, along with weather changes sometimes brought about flare ups . Thanks for your suggestion with meditation I will give it a try. It’s so helpful to know I have company and others struggle sometimes like me.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Interesting comments. I just returned to Massachusetts after being in Florida for 5 weeks. Didn’t have the ringing in my ears the whole time I was in Florida but got it back as I was heading into colder temperatures !! Very strange. Changes in pressure, changes in humidity or just the colder temps ??
Interesting! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Actually my tinnitus seems to get worse in the Spring along with my allergies.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I find exercise , stress , flu, head colds , loud environments and anything that raises your blood pressure can make tinnitus intolerable. Salt , wine, chocolate , sugar and caffeine are other contributors . It’s a very challenging thing to live with especially if you also have hearing loss .
Sadly, that is true. Hang in there. Meditation is the thing that helps me the most.
I am 76 have had tinnitus in my right ear for 30 years I have managed my tinnitus until now the last six months have been terrible the noise is going fast and faster no idea what’s caused this I have always thought it was weather pressures high or low that had something to do with it I have noticed I started getting garbled sounds. In my left ear going deaf this could have something to do with it
I am sorry to hear about your troubles. If there has been a change maybe a visit to the ENT would be a good idea. Good luck to you.
I just realized what I thought was tinnitus was actually the EMF frequencies being emitted by a nearby cell tower. Anyone else experience this?
That is a unique one! Thanks for your question.
Has anyone developed tinnitus from any of the Covid vaccines ? I was reading articles online that some people in the Covid trials developed tinnitus . I have a profound hearing loss and suffer from moderate to severe tinnitus and worry about it getting worse if I eventually get the Covid vaccine .
I have not heard of this happening, but it is a scary thought. More research is needed. Thank you for the question.
I worry about the side effects of this Covid vaccine with tinnitus. There isn’t a lot of information out there yet since it’s such a new vaccine . Many medications can cause tinnitus and many are not temporary side effects. I am planning to contact some ear doctors in my area for more information before I receive this vaccine before I dive in blindly .
Please let us know what you find out. Thank you!