Tinnitus, a condition where people hear sounds like ringing or buzzing without an external source, affects about 15% of the world’s population. This condition often occurs alongside hearing loss and can seriously impact mental health, leading to stress and depression. While there is no cure for tinnitus, new research suggests that understanding its connection to sleep might help improve treatments.
Sleep and tinnitus are linked in surprising ways. Tinnitus happens when the brain creates “phantom sounds,” similar to how the brain processes sensory information during sleep. In both cases, brain activity is altered, particularly in areas related to hearing. Researchers believe that the same brain mechanisms influencing sleep and tinnitus might offer clues for managing the condition.
During deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, the brain’s activity moves in waves, helping neurons recover and improving memory. This stage of sleep appears to suppress tinnitus by calming overactive brain regions. However, many people with tinnitus struggle to reach deep sleep, leading to lighter and more interrupted sleep patterns. Despite these challenges, the deep sleep they do get seems to quiet the effects of tinnitus temporarily.
One theory is that the intense need for rest after being awake for a long time drives neurons into a recovery mode during deep sleep, potentially reducing the perception of tinnitus. Another possibility is that deep sleep interferes with communication between hyperactive brain areas, allowing the rest of the brain to function without disruption. These findings suggest that deep sleep might naturally suppress tinnitus, even if only for a short time.
Understanding how tinnitus and sleep interact could lead to better treatments. For example, improving the quality of sleep through techniques like sleep restriction—where people only go to bed when truly tired—could enhance deep sleep and potentially reduce tinnitus symptoms. Future research could explore tracking brain activity during different sleep stages to pinpoint how sleep affects tinnitus and how to harness natural brain activity to alleviate it.
While there’s still much to learn, the connection between sleep and tinnitus opens the door to new ways of managing this challenging condition and improving the lives of those who experience it.
The original article published in The Conversation. December 6,2024 by Linus Milinski et al.