Consider a Tinnitus Doctor to Fix Ringing in Your Ears

How do Hearing Aids work

Tinnitus is the perception of a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound when no actual sound is present. Most of us have experienced this briefly, but when these noises are constant or chronic, it becomes difficult to ignore and can negatively impact our lives. If you suffer from tinnitus, you are not alone. The American Tinnitus Association reports that nearly 45 million Americans experience it. Untreated can lead to frustration, anger, stress, isolation, anxiety, or depression.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is often associated with a headache and ringing in the ears. But it can manifest itself in other forms, including buzzing, hissing, clicking, or even roaring. The intensity, pitch, and type of sound can vary from person to person and can be constant or intermittent. While commonly associated with hearing loss, it can be experienced by anyone, regardless of their hearing level.

What Kind of Doctor Treats Tinnitus?

As we’ll see, tinnitus has many different causes. Therefore, the approach to treating it can be equally multi-faceted. During the course of finding the right solution for your tinnitus, you may work with one of our audiologists. These professionals are trained in diagnosing, managing, and treating hearing problems. They have a number of tools at their disposal to aid those with tinnitus as well as any associated hearing loss.

Are Hearing Aids the Only Option for Tinnitus?

Hearing aids are a common intervention for tinnitus, especially when accompanied by hearing loss, but there may be other options. The options available depend on the cause of the tinnitus as well as the individual in question. Your tinnitus doctor will help you decide what treatment is right for you. Some options may include:

Sound Therapy

White noise machines, specialized tinnitus maskers, or even apps can be used to create sounds that distract from the tinnitus.

Lifestyle Changes

Medical professionals may recommend lifestyle changes or changes to your environment that will help to minimize the occurrence of severity of tinnitus.

Causes of Tinnitus/Ringing in Ear

Tinnitus can come from many different sources, some more in your control than others. Understanding them can help you manage the condition better. Causes of tinnitus may include loud noise exposure, head trauma, or certain medications such as aspirin.

Hearing Loss:

Loss of hearing isn’t universal across frequencies. As the brain loses the ability to hear certain frequencies, it may perceive a ringing sound in its place.
Earwax Blockage: If too much earwax is allowed to accumulate, it can irritate the eardrum and lead to tinnitus.

Medications:

Tinnitus is a side effect of some medications. These include certain antibiotics, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin.

Meniere’s Disease:

This is an inner ear condition that can cause a headache and ringing in the ears.

TMJ Disorders:

The temporomandibular joint is on each side of the head in front of the ears. Inflammation or irritation in that area due to its proximity to the ears, can cause tinnitus.

Head or Neck Injuries:

Trauma to the head or neck can cause tinnitus.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction:

This tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. Problems with it can lead to tinnitus.

Muscle Spasms:

Spasms in the muscles of the inner ear can result in tinnitus.

Whatever your underlying cause may be, you can rest assured knowing the experts at MetroHearing will help take care of your needs.

Treatment for Tinnitus/Ringing in Ears

One of the first steps is to have a complete diagnostic hearing assessment by a Tinnitus doctor or Audiologist. An MRI can rule out any structural problems that could cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is often present with high-frequency hearing loss, and hearing aids can be the best course of treatment. Amplification may also be an option for those suffering from tinnitus due to the brain turning up neural activity because of the lack of sound stimulation caused by hearing loss.

Additionally, Metro Hearing now has hearing instruments from several manufacturers with integrated tinnitus treatments which have proven extremely helpful. These products use various sound therapy and sound-generating features to help minimize the impact of tinnitus. Contact us today to get in touch with a tinnitus doctor near you.

 

Please call (602) 975-4400 for a tinnitus consultation to discuss how you can find relief.