Tinnitus
Hope for Managing the
Ringing in Your Ears
“This constant ringing in my ears is driving me out of my mind!”
If you experience this frustration 24/7, then you already understand the debilitating effects produced by the neurological condition known as tinnitus.
The American Tinnitus Association estimates more than 50 million Americans experience at least occasional bouts of tinnitus.
For most, the condition is mild or disappears after a few days, but between 1% and 2% of those 30 million experience tinnitus that is so severe that it leads to anxiety, depression, strained relationships with family and friends, difficulty concentrating and/or sleep loss.
Because of the way tinnitus negatively impacts your overall health and quality of life, finding relief from from your condition is high on our list of hearing care priorities.
Schedule a Tinnitus Assessment
Tinnitus FAQs
What Is Tinnitus?
A common misconception surrounding tinnitus is that it’s a disease, but it is really a symptom of a neurological disorder characterized by persistent ringing in one or both ears that does not come from any external sound source.
Those who battle with tinnitus describe the sound they “hear” as ringing, whistling, hissing, buzzing, or pulsing sound is also possible. For most, these sounds come and go, but they can become an ongoing part of daily life, causing irritation, making it difficult to relax or concentrate, and even contributing to a loss of sleep.
What Causes Tinnitus?
A specific, identifiable cause for tinnitus has not been discovered as of yet, but there are a number of factors that typically lead to the condition, including
• prolonged exposure to noise
• various ototoxic drugs
• diet
• head trauma
• stress
• a blockage in the ear canal
• vestibular issues
Though it does not cause it, hearing loss often accompanies tinnitus, suggesting a connection to processing issues associated with the inner-ear, the auditory nerve, and the brain.
In rare cases, tinnitus is a symptom of a blood vessel disorder, resulting in pulsatile tinnitus. This type of tinnitus can come from a head or neck tumor, cholesterol buildup, hypertension, turbulent blood flow, or malformation of the capillaries surrounding the ear, which is recognized because the rhythm of the pulsing sounds tends to match your heartbeat.
What is involved in a tinnitus evaluation?
Because your tinnitus symptoms are personal and unique in nature, an in-depth evaluation is the first step in providing the relief you need using a specialized treatment plan that meets your specific needs.
Your audiologist will begin by identifying contributing factors to your condition as well as asking you to describe the specific symptoms you experience. Diagnostic testing will help rule out possible medical factors that could be causing or contributing to your tinnitus.
After identifying contributing factors to your condition and evaluating your specific symptoms, our tinnitus specialists are able to use our expertise to reduce the impact of tinnitus on your daily life.
How Can We Help You Manage Tinnitus?
Without an identifiable cause, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are proven techniques and technologies available to help you manage your tinnitus. Treatment options typically include changes to your diet, lifestyle, or medications, while various relaxation methods help you cope with your symptoms.
For those who are experiencing hearing loss along with their tinnitus symptoms, the preferred treatment option is the use of a hearing instrument equipped with AGX Hearing Technology. Improving your hearing often helps reduce or eliminate your perception of tinnitus, providing a viable solution to address both issues.
Patients who are not experiencing hearing loss find relief for their symptoms using one or various treatment options, such as:
Masking: This option involves the use of an electronic device called a masker, which is worn to distract from the ringing sensation. Maskers fit in the ear similarly to hearing aids and produce low-level sounds. Bedside or table-top sound generators and other devices are additional alternatives to help reduce the perception of tinnitus sounds.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: A therapeutic process in which we specialize provides relief for many of our patients. Using a combination of sound therapy and counseling, which alters the brain’s neural signals and weakens the perception of tinnitus, we are able to help reduce the impact of tinnitus on your daily life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A type of counseling that teaches coping techniques designed to alter your body’s emotional reaction to tinnitus through limiting negative thought patterns and reducing your level of stress.
Learn More About How You Can
Manage the Ringing in Your Ears
The good news is that you don’t have to put up with the ringing in your ears. There are various technologies and treatment strategies available to manage the impact of tinnitus on your daily life.
If you or a loved one is battling tinnitus, take the first step toward finding the relief you need by using the adjacent form to schedule a tinnitus evaluation.
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