One out of 10 Americans suffer from tinnitus, persistent ringing in ears or head, unveils a study. According to researchers, the likely cause of the conditions is regular exposure to loud noises. In the condition tinnitus, a person hears sound when in reality there is no external sound present.

The condition as per the researchers interferes with emotions, thinking, sleep and concentration and may lead to hearing loss. In order to have an idea of how many Americans suffer from tinnitus, study researchers have assessed the data from 2007 National Health Interview Survey. In the survey, more than 75,000 participants have taken part.

From the evaluation, it was found that nearly one out of 10 respondents was having the problem in the past 12 months. Those who have reported of having tinnitus, 27% were having symptoms for more than 15 years and one third of them witnessed constant symptoms.

The researchers noticed one thing that the condition was common among those who were constantly exposed to loud noises at work or during their free time. Study’s lead researcher Dr. Harrison Lin from University of California said, “Noise exposures at work and at home seem to correlate with the prevalence of chronic tinnitus, and accordingly these noise exposures should be addressed and minimized”.

When it came to treatment, researchers found that medication was the most common treatment recommended by doctors. Hearing aids and tinnitus masking devices were also suggested to many patients, but the least discussed treatment was cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

It was surprising as CBT is officially recommended treatment option by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation for tinnitus. If the condition is not cured then it would negative impact on a person’s quality of life.

A report published in I4U revealed, "Tinnitus is characterized by hearing of sound when no actual external sound is present and if this condition continues it interferes with emotions, thinking, hearing, sleep and concentration and may lead to hearing loss."

“Noise exposures at work and at home seem to correlate with the prevalence of chronic tinnitus, and accordingly these noise exposures should be addressed and minimized.” Lead researcher Dr. Harrison Lin from University of California, Irvine suspects though the study does not show any direct link between these two.

“The vast majority of patients with tinnitus will not have a medical-health related complication from tinnitus,” Dr Lin told CBS News. “However, tinnitus can be pathologically irritating and exacerbate mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorder and depression. It can result in insomnia, generate destructive trains of thought and emotion and have a subsequently negative impact on a person’s life.”

According to a report in Huffington Post by Michael Lazar, "Doctors leading the study advised that many times the underlying cause of tinnitus can be traced back to occupational hazards, home exposure or lifestyle choices, such as attending loud concerts or frequently visiting the shooting range. Most concerning is noise exposure at home, which doctors say is the most preventable cause of tinnitus."

More than 76,000 adult men and women took part in the study, which culled data, in part, from the National Health Interview Survey. Using this data, researchers were able to ascertain that approximately 10% of the U. S. population suffers from this hearing disorder. They also found that 27% of sufferers had ongoing symptoms spanning more than 15 years, while 36% suffered from chronic and persistent symptoms.

Aside from conventional options, experts say that newer smartphone applications have proven to be veritable. These create white noise and other sounds that you listen to with headphones, and have been shown to greatly aid sufferers.