Can tinnitus cause depression?
Once the tinnitus signal is generated in the auditory system, another part of the brain (the limbic system) attaches an emotional response to it. Similar to the feeling you get when you scratch your fingernails down a blackboard, tinnitus is more than just a perceived sound. Tinnitus can trigger anxiety and stress responses in the body which, in addition to the limbic system, also involves the autonomic nervous system. This is why, for some individuals, tinnitus can be quite debilitating causing difficulty with sleeping, concentrating, reading, relationships, and other everyday activities. Several studies have shown a correlation between tinnitus and depression, as well as with anxiety and stress disorders, with these being more common in individuals who experience tinnitus than those who do not. Additionally, studies have shown that patients who are depressed suffer a greater disability from their tinnitus than non-depressed patients. If depression is a problem for you, it would be wi
