Tinnitus

What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a ringing in your ear or other type of noise heard internally that cannot be detected by others. According to the American Tinnitus Association, over 50 million Americans suffer from this condition. In severe cases of tinnitus, depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts can occur.

What causes tinnitus?
There are many causes of tinnitus including the accumulation of earwax, exposure to loud sounds, head injuries, and blood circulation problems. Tinnitus is a known side effect of more than 200 prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Many people who suffer from tinnitus also have hearing loss and should contact an audiologist in order to see if their tinnitus is related to their hearing loss. Sonus has audiologists around the country well versed in identifying some of the causes of tinnitus.

Once your hearing has been evaluated, the audiologist may refer you to a physician for further tests or treatment. Many causes of tinnitus have a medical basis that can be treated by an otolaryngologist, a physician who specializes in diseases of the ear. A Sonus audiologist will be able to refer you to one of these specialists following a comprehensive hearing test.

What are treatment options for tinnitus?
Some people suffer from chronic tinnitus. While there is usually no cure available to these patients, there are several proven methods of obtaining relief of this long-lasting condition. For people with hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing aids provide relief. In some cases hearing aids not only provide improved hearing, but also eliminate the annoying tinnitus while the hearing aids are worn. Devices, such as, tinnitus maskers are also used. Maskers, which look like hearing aids, produce sounds intended to divert the patient’s attention away from their tinnitus.

Another treatment option is called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). TRT is designed to help the brain learn to ignore the tinnitus. TRT involves using a device, much like a tinnitus masker, that produces a very soft sound. Through a long process that often takes over a year, the patient learns to not focus on their tinnitus and gradually curtail the use of the device.

In other cases, prescription drugs have been known to provide relief of tinnitus. Some drugs that are sometimes effective include anticonvulsants, tranquillizers, anti-anxiety medications, vasodilators, and anti-histamines.

Other treatment options include dental treatment of jawbone problems, stress reduction exercises, biofeedback, allergy control, and alternative medicine.

What should I do if I think I have tinnitus?
You should talk to your physician. Finding the exact cause of tinnitus and treatment effectiveness depends on many variables. You should never start a tinnitus treatment regime on your own without first consulting your doctor and then getting a comprehensive hearing evaluation. Once you have discussed the options with your doctor, a thorough hearing evaluation should be obtained from an audiologist. Sonus has certified audiologists located around the country, please call 1-800-HEARING to find one near you.