Do you hear a persistent ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, whooshing, chirping or whirring noise that no one else does? If so, you’re not alone. It’s a condition called tinnitus, and it affects almost 50 million Americans.
These constant or intermittent sounds are heard only by the person experiencing the tinnitus, but can sometimes be detected by a hearing professional. Some people have problems sleeping when they have tinnitus, because they feel as though their brain never shuts off.
Don’t fret. We’ll evaluate your tinnitus and recommend a treatment option to give you relief.
Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be caused by a wide variety of things, ranging from too much aspirin to a head injury. If the cause is temporary, such as a medication, infection or buildup of earwax, the condition may be resolved easily.
Treatment Options
The most effective tinnitus treatment for you will depend on the underlying cause of your tinnitus. In finding the right resolution for you, our audiologist will assess the severity of your tinnitus, symptoms, impact on your daily life and possible causes.
One of these courses of action may be recommended:
- Address the problem: If your tinnitus is due to earwax build up, medication or infection, they’ll recommend the proper course to resolve the issue. This may include removing the earwax, switching medications or antibiotics.
- White noise machines: If your tinnitus isn’t as severe or only experienced at night time, a white noise machine may be ideal for helping you find relief. White noise machines produce a steady sound to help mask the tinnitus noises you hear.
- Hearing aids: The most common cause of tinnitus is undiagnosed hearing loss. When auditory input is limited, the brain fills in the gaps. By restoring auditory input, the tinnitus may subside or be eliminated. Even if hearing loss isn’t present, hearing aids are often a successful treatment method, because they can be equipped with a masking feature to offer relief from unwanted noise.
For continued relief, it’s important that you manage any underlying health problems that contribute to your tinnitus.
If you are suffering from tinnitus, schedule an appointment for an evaluation today.