Why Almost Everyone is Dead Wrong About Tinnitus, or Ringing in the Ears. Including Why Magic Pills & Surgery Don’t Stop the Ringing!
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Ringing in your ears might not seem like a big deal— until it’s all you can focus on. There are a lot of different causes of ear ringing, but tinnitus can take a toll on your wellbeing when it goes untreated. For some, it’s simple ringing or hissing that comes and goes. For others, it can be constant and cause distress and problems sleeping. What’s important to know is that tinnitus is treatable with the right options and an experienced Doctor of Audiology.
Tinnitus is a symptom, usually of an underlying concern, where you experience a ringing or buzzing sound in your head, even when there’s nothing external causing it. Although many people experience a ringing sound, it can sound different for each person—it can be louder or softer, higher or lower pitch, or even come and go at different times of the day. There are a lot of different causes of tinnitus, but some of the most common are health concerns, inner ear disorders, injuries, or even loud noise exposure.
During our comprehensive H.E.A.R. Method™ Treatment Program tinnitus assessment, our Doctors of Audiology will begin by discussing your symptoms and any factors that might contribute to it. To make sure that your treatment is as effective as possible, you should make sure that you can describe your tinnitus to our team, with factors like when you experience it, how long you’ve had symptoms, any changes that happen, and when it’s loudest. This is all part of our approach to hearing assessments that take more than just your hearing ability into account when personalizing a hearing solution for you. We consider your lifestyle, family dynamic, and gathered data to truly understand the issue and solve it holistically.
You should also be ready to discuss your family history and any health concerns you have. Sometimes, tinnitus can be a symptom of other conditions or medications, so your Doctor of Audiology will want a complete picture of your health. Then, we’ll examine your ears for any physical anomalies or blockages that might be causing ear ringing.
Finally, we’ll perform a series of hearing tests to match the pitch and loudness of your tinnitus. This can sometimes give us an indication of a cause. It can also help us tailor the right treatment to you and your symptoms. We’ll also spend some time discussing how to manage your tinnitus and its emotional effects.
Tinnitus can seem like only a mild annoyance, but some people experience tinnitus to a degree that it interferes with their everyday activities and taxes their mental health. Along with interfering with the ability to focus or sleep, it can greatly increase symptoms of anxiety or depression. In turn, the emotional toll of tinnitus can then worsen the ringing.
Along with the above concerns, it’s extremely important to be screened for tinnitus because it can be a symptom of an underlying medical problem or health concern. Tinnitus can be the result of poor lifestyle choices like drinking, smoking, too much caffeine, or unhealthy diet. It can also be associated with conditions like allergies, diabetes, Meniere’s Disease, circulatory concerns, and thyroid conditions. This means your Doctor of Audiology should screen for these underlying conditions so that you can treat your tinnitus by addressing them.
Tinnitus doesn’t have to take a heavy toll on your everyday life. To learn more about how you can find relief from ear ringing, we invite you to meet with our Doctors of Audiology by calling our Livingston office or filling out our online form.
Tinnitus is often described as a secondary medical condition; meaning that it typically occurs as a side-effect of another condition (most often hearing loss). Tinnitus by itself is not harmful, but it is an indication that there is something else going on and if it is bothersome, you should seek treatment from a trained medical professional.
Depending on your tinnitus symptoms, the tone at which your tinnitus presents itself may interfere with your test results. If you experience tinnitus, it is important to notify your audiologist prior to testing. In doing so, they can use different types of tones to ensure you can tell the difference between the tone and your tinnitus.
Yes, a virus can cause tinnitus; however it is unlikely.
No. There are no ear drops for tinnitus.
No, tinnitus cannot kill you. Some people with bothersome tinnitus may experience side effects such as depression and anxiety.
Tinnitus is typically secondary to permanent damage which already exists within the auditory system. Tinnitus itself cannot cause any further damage to your ears.
Tinnitus is often described as a secondary medical condition; meaning that it typically occurs as a side-effect of another condition (most often hearing loss). Tinnitus by itself is not harmful, but it is an indication that there is something else going on and if it is bothersome, you should seek treatment from a trained medical professional.
Yes. Tinnitus is known to be especially bothersome and disruptive for sleep. This is mainly due to the fact that when trying to sleep, there is often less background noise to distract from the sound.
The perception of tinnitus is personal. Some are unbothered by the sound, while others may find it debilitating. If your tinnitus is bothersome or causing you distress, you should seek treatment from a trained medical professional.
The best way to find out if earwax is causing your tinnitus is to schedule an appointment with an Audiologist. The Audiologist will perform otoscopy to verify whether or not there is wax in your ear canal which could be contributing to your tinnitus.
Yes. You should seek treatment from an Audiologist or other trained medical profession for your tinnitus.
There are many things which can aggravate your tinnitus. These include: excessive salt, stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, certain medications or combinations of medications, chocolate, and excessive noise.