Ringing In Your Ears?

If you have tinnitus, you’re not alone. As many as 25 million Americans may have tinnitus – and not all of them know it.

Tinnitus is a medical condition in which the ear incessantly produces annoying sounds such as ringing, buzzing, or clicking. Tinnitus is unique in that it does not cause or exaggerate hearing loss – instead, it simply makes hearing more challenging. At I Love Hearing Inc., our audiologists can work with you to develop a tinnitus therapy plan to minimize the harsh sounds interfering with your everyday interactions.

Among some of the most common tinnitus causes are the following:

Noise exposure. Exposure to harsh, loud noise isn’t just a factor for hearing loss – it can easily lead to tinnitus as well. Tinnitus sufferers should take special care to avoid further noise exposure, as it can worsen both hearing loss and tinnitus symptoms.

Hearing loss. Although tinnitus doesn’t cause or exaggerate hearing loss, it can certainly be a symptom of hearing loss. Many people don’t consider that they might be undergoing hearing loss, even when they experience common symptoms.

Medication. Just as some medications can cause hearing loss, some medications include tinnitus among their potential side effects. In fact, more than 200 medicines – including common ones such as aspirin – can lead to tinnitus. Before visiting us for your tinnitus therapy consultation, speak with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether any of your medications could be causing your tinnitus.

Other causes. Tumors, allergies, circulatory system problems, and jaw and neck issues can all lead to tinnitus.

If you think you have tinnitus, contact I Love Hearing to schedule a tinnitus therapy appointment. Our audiologists will examine you to determine the possible cause of your tinnitus and determine an appropriate treatment plan.

A tinnitus therapy appointment at our offices involves audiometric testing and a thorough medical history review. Our audiologists will use the information they learn to determine the most likely causes of your tinnitus and recommend a treatment plan. If our audiologists find that deeper medical issues may underlie your tinnitus, they may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for a full diagnosis.

At I Love Hearing, our audiologists offer the following types of tinnitus therapy:

Hearing aids. Although tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, hearing aids can make up for the portion of your hearing lost to ringing, buzzing, or clicking. Many tinnitus patients report that hearing aids make up for part or all of their tinnitus-based hearing interference.

Maskers. Although maskers often look similar to hearing aids, they don’t amplify sound that enters the ear as hearing aids do. Instead, maskers emit sounds that can, as their name suggests, mask tinnitus ringing, buzzing, and clicking.

Once our audiologists determine the cause of your tinnitus, they’ll recommend the treatment plan best for your case.

Avoid smoking, alcohol, and loud noise to prevent your tinnitus from worsening. If loud noise exposure is part of your work, wear earplugs, earmuffs, or other noise-canceling devices to protect your hearing.

Your tinnitus may interfere with your everyday abilities, but proper management can lessen your burden. Simple requests in social situations, such as asking the people you’re talking with to face you directly, can help you understand what’s being said. You can also ask people to speak louder (though not so loud that they’re essentially screaming) and more clearly.