Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Leads to Ringing in the Ears, Tinnitus

When struggling with complications arising out of a traumatic event, there are many potential psychological complications that may arise. For many returning war veterans, the complications associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, extent well beyond that of emotional or psychological trauma.

The development of hearing complications, even tinnitus, has been found in many returning war veterans particularly those who suffer from PTSD. While there are strong psychological components to the development of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, some veterans are showing actually complications involving the nervous system and the auditory system.

If you, or someone you know, is a returning war veteran struggling with PTSD complications, it is important to become familiar with the risks associated with development of tinnitus. In VA patients with a strong indication of major depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation, the development of tinnitus is not uncommon. Upon auditory examination, many cases of this PTSD-induced tinnitus is simply perceived rather than actually existent. For this reason, PTSD-induced tinnitus can be challenging to treat.

Without proper treatment of tinnitus, any PTSD symptoms you may be experiencing will quickly become prey to exacerbation, often leading to a more significant degree of hyper vigilance or a heightened state of arousal. In cases where arousal or anxiety are extremely high, you may even notice that symptoms of tinnitus seem to be greater. If this describes your symptoms, you can conclude, to some extent, that your tinnitus is strongly rooted in a perception of ringing in the ears and there are strong psychological component to your complication.