Constant Ringing in the Ears? What Tinnitus Treatments Are Available?

One of the most overlooked conditions in the world today, tinnitus plagues more than 50 million Americans around the nation. Ranging from a mild annoyance to a complete rehabilitation, tinnitus affects everyone differently. Because it affects everyone different, the treatment options are limited and often require personalization.

Tinnitus is when you experience a ringing, buzzing, humming, or other noise in one or both of your ears. An external sound doesn’t cause the noise you hear when you have tinnitus and other people can’t hear it.

Most people who have tinnitus have subjective tinnitus or tinnitus that only the afflicted can hear. The noises of tinnitus may vary significantly in pitch. This may sound like a high squealing noise or a low pulsing noise. It depends on the person and the tinnitus they have. The patient may hear it in one or both ears.

Because of this, it makes treatment for the condition more difficult. Because of the uniqueness of each case of tinnitus, you need to visit a hearing professional so that he or she may assess your case on an individual basis. If you believe you may have tinnitus and live in the Greater Las Vegas area, consult Hearing Associates of Las Vegas immediately.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury, or a response to certain types of medication. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other therapies. Another standard treatment is to help the patient not notice the noise as much.

There is currently no scientifically proven cure for most cases of chronic tinnitus — usually, the vast majority of cases are caused by sensorineural hearing loss. The search for a definitive cure is still ongoing, but real progress has been made. Unfortunately, there is currently no clinically proven way to eliminate the human perception of tinnitus entirely.

What Can Be Done?

Do not fret. There are excellent tools to help patients manage their condition, such as treatments that reduce tinnitus’s perceived intensity and burden. These treatments usually address the attentional, emotional, and cognitive impact of tinnitus. They help patients live better and more fulfilling lives, even if some perception of tinnitus remains.

If an underlying health condition causes your tinnitus, a doctor may be able to treat your tinnitus by treating the root cause.

Some examples include earwax removal, treating a blood vessel condition, hearing aids (if your tinnitus is caused by noise-induced or age-related hearing loss), changing your medication, or noise suppression.

Some examples of noise suppression include white noise machines and masking devices. White noise machines produce a sound similar to static or environmental sounds such as falling rain or ocean waves and are often a very effective treatment for tinnitus. Fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners in the bedroom also produce white noise and may help make tinnitus less noticeable, particularly at night.

Masking devices are worn in the ear and are very similar to hearing aids. However, these devices produce a continuous, low-level white noise that suppresses tinnitus symptoms.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

One of the most prolific behavioral ways to treat tinnitus is Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). TRT is an individualized program that is usually administered by an audiologist or at a tinnitus treatment center. The treatment combines sound masking and counseling from a trained professional. Usually, the patient will wear a device in your ear that helps mask their tinnitus symptoms while they also receive directive counseling.

Over time, TRT usually helps the patient notice tinnitus less and feel less distressed by their symptoms.

Drugs can’t cure tinnitus, but in some cases, they may help reduce the severity of symptoms and make your life more manageable. To help relieve some tinnitus symptoms, a doctor may prescribe medication to treat an underlying condition or help treat the anxiety and depression that often accompany tinnitus.

Certain adjustments in their daily routine and lifestyle can make the symptoms of tinnitus less bothersome for many people.

One of these adjustments is to use hearing protection when necessary. Over time, exposure to loud sounds can damage the nerves in your ears, causing hearing loss and tinnitus. To keep your tinnitus from getting worse, it is vital to take steps to protect your hearing.

If you work in a place where there are loud noises, always wear over-the-ear hearing protection. Even turning down the music when listening to your favorite band can go a long way towards preventing or worsening tinnitus.

It is also important to limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. These substances, especially when used in excess, can affect blood flow and contribute to tinnitus.

Sharing your experience with others who have tinnitus may also be helpful. Various tinnitus support groups meet in person, as well as online.

Through all of these various treatments, the outlook for those with tinnitus is optimistic. While every case of tinnitus is different, the wide variety of treatments available to those with the condition make it manageable. The important thing is to have someone in your corner that knows your situation and can help you through it. Contact an audiologist today to help you manage your condition and get on track towards healthy hearing.