Are you hearing a ringing or buzzing sound with no actual external source? You may be experiencing tinnitus. This condition may occur in one or both ears and can interfere with how a person hears actual sounds.
Tinnitus symptoms vary from mild to severe, with the latter possibly affecting sleep and concentration.
Untreated tinnitus may affect overall health and wellness over time, possibly triggering anxiety, stress, depression, and other related medical concerns. In this blog, we’ll talk about the treatments and methods that could help alleviate tinnitus.
What helps tinnitus go away?
There are various treatment methods available to help tinnitus patients find relief. The treatments will depend on what’s causing the tinnitus, so an accurate diagnosis is key.
If tinnitus is caused by an ototoxic medicine, earwax buildup, or infection, we can recommend the proper course of action to resolve the issue. If tinnitus is caused by ototoxic medications, alternative medications may be prescribed. If the problem is due to earwax buildup, it can be addressed by professional earwax removal. If tinnitus is caused by an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Behavioral therapy may also help address the varying emotions that people may experience with tinnitus, which could range from anxiety to anger.
Other treatments for tinnitus include:
White noise machines
If tinnitus tends to be more prominent during nighttime, a white noise machine may be recommended. White noise machines can produce steady sounds to mask tinnitus noises.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)
Tinnitus retraining therapy is designed to help people with tinnitus find relief by retraining their minds to block out tinnitus and hear certain tones instead. These tones or sounds can help ease the symptoms caused by tinnitus.
Hearing aids for tinnitus
Hearing aids can help address tinnitus even in the absence of hearing loss. Some hearing aids can be equipped with tinnitus-masking features that can offer relief from disturbing noise.
Common Symptoms of Tinnitus
The most common symptom of tinnitus includes hearing the following sounds (or a combination of sounds) at varying degrees of pitch or loudness:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Clicking
- Hissing
- Whooshing
- Shrieking
These sounds can be heard constantly or intermittently. Some people with tinnitus encounter sleeping problems because they feel as if their brain never shuts off and they are left lying in bed trying to drown out tinnitus noises.
Two Types of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is categorized into two types – subjective and objective.
Subjective tinnitus is linked to an abnormality in the auditory pathway. People who have subjective tinnitus are the only ones who can hear the sounds.
Objective tinnitus involves an actual noise stemming from the blood vessels or vascular structures near the ears, head, or neck. The sounds produced by objective tinnitus can be heard by other people in close proximity to the patient. A doctor may be able to hear objective tinnitus through a stethoscope. People with high blood pressure are prone to experience objective tinnitus as well.
Common Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus may be caused by several factors which include:
- Exposure to loud noise
- Ototoxic medication
- Impacted earwax
- Ear infection
- Hearing loss
- Trauma to the head or ear
- Meniere’s disease
- Vascular disorders
If the cause is temporary (such as earwax buildup or ear infection), tinnitus can be resolved easily. However, for other causes of tinnitus, further tests and medication may be necessary to experience relief.
Tinnitus Diagnosis
To diagnose tinnitus, the ears will be examined visually and a hearing test will be performed. During the hearing test, an audiologist will transmit sounds through a set of headphones and the patient will be instructed to respond to certain tones or spoken instructions by pushing a button or raising their hand.
Tinnitus Evaluations in Cary, NC
Cary Audiology provides hearing tests and tinnitus evaluations in Cary, NC.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
