Tinnitus: A lesser-known menopause symptom

Fluctuating estrogen alters how brain, auditory system process sound, says UCI Health otolaryngologist

IN THE NEWS: Hot flashes, mood swings and night sweats are some of the most frequently discussed perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

Less known is the link between menopause and tinnitus, a condition in which one hears sounds that no one else can hear and that have no external source.

Dr. Hamid Djalilian, an otolaryngologist with UCI Health, spoke with MSN about the up to 30% of women who experience new or worsening tinnitus during menopause.

"Faint, harmless sounds get amplified by a migraine-like process, where hormonal shifts, inflammation and changes in the nervous system cause an overall sensory hypersensitivity. This brain process takes what was once a mild symptom and turns it into a loud, intrusive and unpredictable burden."

The cause of worsening tinnitus is fluctuating estrogen levels, which impact how the brain and auditory system process sound. He discussed how it happens:

"Estrogen helps regulate blood flow in the inner ear, supports the hair cells that convert sound into signals and stabilizes the brain networks that filter out background noise. When estrogen levels swing or drop, these systems can become destabilized, leading to heightened auditory sensitivity and loud tinnitus.”

While there is no cure, tinnitus can less post menopause as hormones stabilize. Through treatment, Djalilian said, the noise can usually be stabilized and fade into the background. Additionally, he is on a team that recently received a patent for methods and systems that use electrical stimulation as a treatment for tinnitus.

"Tinnitus involves multiple different brain regions, each of which need to be addressed. Treatment might include prescription medication support, hormone therapy, nutraceuticals, lifestyle changes, sleep optimization, cognitive behavioral therapy or other measures."

"The good news is that it’s not just the tinnitus that improves, but brain health in general. Sleep becomes deeper, sensory hypersensitivity decreases, mood lifts, along with overall well-being."

Djalilian sees patients at UCI Health Ear, Nose and Throat Services. An internationally recognized expert in tinnitus, hearing loss, balance disorders and facial nerve paralysis, he has authored or co-authored nearly 200 publications.

He is also a professor of otolaryngology, neurosurgery and biomedical engineering and the director of otology and neurotology in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

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