Over 25 million Americans (approximately 10 percent of the U.S. adult population) experience some form of tinnitus. Tinnitus is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears” but can also be perceived as buzzing, hissing, crickets, swooshing, or other sounds when no external sound is present. The severity of tinnitus can range from non-bothersome to debilitating.
If you or a loved one has symptoms of tinnitus, our team of experienced audiologists can help. Contact Columbus Speech & Hearing at (614) 263-5151 today.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
Tinnitus causes a person to perceive sounds inside the head. Although these sounds are not caused by external noise, the symptoms of tinnitus are very much real and can significantly impact a person’s daily life.
The sounds associated with tinnitus are often described as:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Roaring
- Humming
- Crickets
- Hissing
- Whooshing
- Pulsing (such as in pulsatile tinnitus, a rare form of tinnitus)
Tinnitus symptoms may be constant, or they may come and go. These sounds may vary in pitch, loudness, and whether they affect one or both ears. No two cases of tinnitus are the same, which is why our audiologists create personalized treatment plans for each individual’s needs.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is usually a symptom of another condition. It can occur for many reasons, including:
- Hearing loss
- Head and neck trauma
- Noise exposure
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders
- Impacted ear wax
- Side effects from medications
In some cases, tinnitus may be caused by autoimmune diseases, benign tumors, blood vessel disorders, and other diseases.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
Research shows that as many as 80% of patients with tinnitus symptoms may also have some degree of hearing loss. While there is no “cure” for tinnitus, many solutions exist to make it more tolerable. Since tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, a hearing evaluation should be one of the first steps in the tinnitus process.
Hearing Aids
Many people with tinnitus don’t realize that they also have hearing loss, yet when identified and treated with hearing aids, they receive both a reduction in tinnitus perception and improved hearing. Together, these can have a significant, positive impact on quality of life.
Habituation Tools
Other tools, like noise generators, sound pillows, and tinnitus apps, can help cope with tinnitus. Tinnitus is generally most bothersome to people when they are in quiet environments. These noise generating tools help mask the tinnitus and give a distraction to divert attention from the sound of the tinnitus. These help with habituation: helping the brain to reclassify tinnitus as an unimportant sound that can and should be consciously ignored.
Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can also be a helpful tool for people with very bothersome tinnitus. Our audiologists can refer you to CBT and continue to work with you on managing your symptoms outside of therapy.
Ringing in Your Ears? We Can Help.
At Columbus Speech & Hearing, we offer audiologic and tinnitus evaluations as well as hearing aids and tinnitus masker options. We can help create a treatment plan that is custom for you!
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