Crickets & Ringing in the Ears

People who experience the sound of crickets chirping, clicks, high-pitched whistles and ringing in the ears are considered to be sufferers of tinnitus. Tinnitus is a medical term and translated from the Latin literally means "ringing." Tinnitus is not a disease but is considered a condition that is usually a symptom of some other underlying cause. The causes can include ear infection, a buildup of wax in the ear, sinus and nose allergies that increase fluid drainage and dripping, a reaction or side effect of certain medications or aging or the most common cause for tinnitus: a noise-induced hearing loss.

Common Characteristics

• Sufferers of tinnitus complain of an incessant ringing noise experienced in one or both ears. Some sufferers experience a combination of sounds that may include humming, buzzing, hissing or high-pitched whining or whistling sounds, clicks, ticking, roaring or the sounds of crickets or locusts or a solid high pitched tone one hears in a hearing test. These sounds can appear suddenly and disappear suddenly or may be experienced intermittently. Regardless of the duration, people who experience the sounds of crickets and ringing in the ears just want it to stop.

Suffered by Millions

• The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) estimates that more than 50 million Americans and millions more worldwide are affected by tinnitus. 12 million sufferers experience severe enough conditions to seek medical attention. ATA also estimates that more than 250 million sufferers of tinnitus exist worldwide and presently there is no cure for this condition, though its mission for existing is "to cure tinnitus through the development of resources that advance tinnitus research."

The Desire for Silence

• The tinnitus sufferer desires one thing: silence. The person suffering from tinnitus does not usually experience pain associated with this incessant ringing in the ears, but she does tire of its constant noise. "It is important to note that treatment outcomes vary depending on the specific cause of tinnitus," says the ATA "how long a patient has had tinnitus and other competing health factors" play a huge role in its treatment.

Tinnitus Management Strategies

• Treatment options are generally considered "management strategies" and varying options exist for the tinnitus sufferer, the most common being a "sound masker." Not all of these options work for everyone who suffers from this condition, nor do they work to the same degree for each person. The ATA stresses the need for the tinnitus sufferer to discuss their unique situation with a certified health professional. Sound therapy works to cover the sound of the tinnitus so that the noises are not so debilitating.

Sound Therapy

• Many sound therapy devices can be purchased over-the-counter, while others must be obtained through an audiologist or other health care provider. Counter top sound therapy devices that help mask the sounds of ringing in the ear include tabletop water fountains and environmental sound machines. Other devices include CD-based systems, hearing aids to increase hearing capacity or ear-level masking devices which produce white noise (a wide bandwidth of sound) and look like hearing aids.

Try This Experiment

• Sound therapy doesn't work for every person who suffers from tinnitus--but there is an easy way to determine if it may work. Try an experiment by tuning a radio to a position on the dial that produces static. If the static blocks the sounds of ringing in the ears---or reduces it significantly---then sound masking may help. If the sound of a shower drowns out the ringing in the ears, this is an indication that a sound masker will work.