Tinnitus is the term used to describe the condition of perceiving a ringing, buzzing or whooshing noise in the absence of an external sound source. This is typically only experienced by the person with tinnitus and has a variety of different causes.
Treating the cause
Tinnitus can be caused by many things, and is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. The treatment for your particular tinnitus will depend on the condition that is causing it, the severity, any accompanying issues such as hearing loss, and the impact the tinnitus has on daily activities.
Common causes of tinnitus include:
- Hearing loss
- Exposure to loud noises
- Earwax buildup or blockage
- Abnormal bone growth in the ear
- Meniere’s disease
- Head or neck injuries
- Benign tumor of the cranial nerve
- Medication
- Aging
- Vascular disorders
- Stress or depression
In order to find out the root cause of your tinnitus, your hearing specialist will conduct a complete medical history, as well as a complete examination.
What to Expect
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound that has no external source. Some of the more common sounds reported are: ringing, humming, buzzing, and cricket-like. Initially, you will complete a diagnostic hearing evaluation. Next, tinnitus will be assessed and measured when possible. You will be asked to match the pitch and volume of your tinnitus. Once matched, we can then determine if masking would allow for inhibition. Inhibition is something that restrains, blocks or suppresses. Tinnitus test results will be discussed and determine if treatment options or management techniques can be completed through audiology or through another specialty (primary care physician, Neurologist, Cardiologist, Otolaryngologist, Psychiatrist).
Masking Devices & Sound Therapy
Hearing Aids
Masking Devices
You can try sound soothing devices found in your local electronics department or purchased through our practice. These devices produce sounds such as: waves crashing on the shoreline, rain in the rain forest, birds chirping in the morning time, etc which are helpful for distracting and reducing stress levels caused by tinnitus.