Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition affecting a person’s eye. Also known as Graves’ disease, TED causes mild to severe inflammation in the eye muscles as well as the fatty tissue found behind it.
The inflamed muscles push the eye forward, causing it to bulge. This is why someone suffering from TED may have red, swollen eyes that have a ‘staring’ expression. As per the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD), TED currently does not classify as rare in America. This means it does not have less than 200,000 cases.
Some forms of this condition can be called rare. TED is debilitating and can impact the patient’s daily life, appearance, and self-esteem. As difficult as this may be to deal with, it also has a connection with tinnitus or a ringing sensation in the ear.
In this article, we will discuss the link in detail and its impact on relationships.
How is TED Linked to Tinnitus?
Besides a ringing sensation, tinnitus may also cause decreased speech comprehension or hearing loss in noisy environments. It can be painfully frustrating to handle buzzing sounds ringing in one or both ears.
But how is TED related to tinnitus, given that the former is a condition affecting the eye, whereas the latter attacks the ear? One of the primary causes of tinnitus today is a medication used to treat TED.
Known as Teprotummubab or Tepezza, this drug by Horizon Therapeutics is known to be toxic for the ears. According to TorHoerman Law, patients may experience tinnitus and partial or complete hearing loss after being treated by Tepezza. The drug manufacturer was blamed for not only complications and injuries but also false advertising.
Injured patients and unaware healthcare providers have filed the Tepezza hearing loss lawsuit to receive fair compensation. Today, there is a class-action multi-district litigation with over 120 lawsuits filed to date. As a retort, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning labels on Tepezza in 2023.
Strained Relationships Due to Tinnitus
It cannot be stressed enough that regular and transparent communication is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. Even trivial matters must be discussed upfront before they turn into major roadblocks. Often, we focus on how communication gaps widen due to abstract reasons like stonewalling, contempt, and passive aggression.
Sometimes, the cause behind strained relationships can be physical impediments like tinnitus and hearing issues. With the ringing noise loud and frustrating, patients often fail to accurately hear other sounds in their surroundings. This can make it extremely difficult to have interactions even on small concerns.
It is natural for exasperation to creep in when communication breaks down. The previously shared intimacy gradually no longer exists, leaving both parties in a state of resentment and isolation. This is especially true of close spousal relationships.
It may even happen that both are blaming each other for an inability to listen when the problem has been tinnitus all along. This highlights an extremely crucial fact that healthy communication must involve proper comprehension to have any positive effect.
When a condition like tinnitus is involved, even the most supportive partners can struggle to understand. The patient will view their loved one as a constant source of support. Simultaneously, others may never be able to fully understand the patient’s state of being, especially listening fatigue.
The brain must put effort into making sense of different sounds in the environment. When a steady buzzing or ringing sound plays in the ear, it increases the brain’s workload. The situation is worse when partial hearing loss has kicked in. The individual may feel tired or overwhelmed even with short-span communications.
Since the other party cannot fully understand, they may interpret it as apathy or disinterest in what they have to say. If anything, such facts offer a glimpse into how multi-faceted intimacy can be. Even the most insignificant of communications, including banter and small talk, hold the potential to build bonds and love.
3 Tips to Support a Loved One with Tinnitus
Has your partner developed tinnitus after a gruesome struggle with TED? It can be disheartening—to say the least. We perfectly understand how overwhelming it can be for yourself and others involved. Let’s look at some tips to support them and maintain connection/intimacy.
1. Bring the Issue to the Light
If tinnitus is threatening to tear apart your relationship with the individual, make sure they’re equally aware of it. They may have no clue of how the communication gap is affecting you. Gently and politely, you can let them know of the impact.
Keep the focus on how you’d want the bond to strengthen. Additionally, tell them that you’re there by their side to offer constant support as they make efforts.
2. Meditate on Your Loved One’s Emotions
As you approach such a sensitive matter, don’t lose sight of your loved one’s struggles. This is particularly important since they’ve been through another ordeal, namely, TED. When followed by tinnitus or hearing loss, an individual may experience a range of negative emotions.
These may include frustration, loneliness, social isolation, and resentment. Try to walk in their shoes as far as possible. Let them find their ‘voice’ to explain how they’ve been feeling. Surely, the loss of communication will be felt on both ends and a heart-to-heart talk should help feel heard.
3. Encourage Them to Seek Professional Help
TED and tinnitus, both carry a level of stigma which can be discouraging. Your loved one may refuse to seek professional help or hearing aids. The National Council on Aging states that prescription devices for hearing do offer a sense of relief from tinnitus.
Let your loved one know that you’re concerned for their health and well-being. Bring up professional support and tell them the benefits of seeking it.
Let’s close with a word of encouragement – tinnitus can be temporary or permanent. If the former, it should heal with proper medical treatment. In the case of the latter, there may be no cure. However, treatments still exist to provide relief.
If your loved one is experiencing a shortening frequency of ringing sensations or lower volume, their tinnitus may be healing. No matter the outcome, remember that there is hope and you can get through this together.
Leave a Reply