A recent study has revealed a link between tinnitus and sleep. Researchers found that the large, spontaneous brain waves that occur during deep sleep, or Non-REM sleep, may suppress the brain activity that causes tinnitus.
Tinnitus, the persistent perception of ringing or buzzing sounds without an external source, affects about 15% of the world's population. It is the most common auditory illusion, yet no known cause or cure exists, despite a long list of hypotheses.
Studies have indicated that the hyperactivity associated with tinnitus hinders the brain's ability to enter and maintain a full, restorative sleep, contributing to the common complaint of sleep disturbances among tinnitus patients.
Studies conducted on animal models, including gerbils with human-like auditory systems, showed that tinnitus and sleep disturbances occur simultaneously after exposure to noise. While the hyperactivity linked to tinnitus often persists during wakefulness, it diminishes during periods of deep Non-REM sleep, suggesting that this stage of sleep naturally alleviates the phantom sounds.
This creates a vicious cycle: the constant interaction between tinnitus and sleep forms a loop. Tinnitus disrupts sleep, and lack of sleep worsens the perception of tinnitus, which in turn exacerbates stress, a known factor that also aggravates tinnitus symptoms.
