What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus ("TIN-a-tus" or "Tin-EYE-tus") is the sensation of sound in your ears when there is no external sound present. This is usually described as ringing in the ears, but sufferers also describe it as hissing, buzzing, whistling, or roaring. It can be persistent or intermittent. Tinnitus can affect people in different ways, some will experience it as a minor annoyance; for others it can lead to more serious issues such as sleep disruption, inability to concentrate during quiet activities, increased stress, anxiety, and depression. There is a wide variety of caused for tinnitus, but the most common is hearing loss and damage to the inner ear's sensory hair cells. There are also other health-related causes of tinnitus which is why it is important to see a medical professional for diagnosis.
Tinnitus ("TIN-a-tus" or "Tin-EYE-tus") is the sensation of sound in your ears when there is no external sound present. This is usually described as ringing in the ears, but sufferers also describe it as hissing, buzzing, whistling, or roaring. It can be persistent or intermittent. Tinnitus can affect people in different ways, some will experience it as a minor annoyance; for others it can lead to more serious issues such as sleep disruption, inability to concentrate during quiet activities, increased stress, anxiety, and depression. There is a wide variety of caused for tinnitus, but the most common is hearing loss and damage to the inner ear's sensory hair cells. There are also other health-related causes of tinnitus which is why it is important to see a medical professional for diagnosis.
What are your options?
If you suffer from tinnitus, sadly there is no known cure, but there is relief. First, anyone with tinnitus should see an audiologist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) who is experienced in tinnitus treatment. Once you know the cause of your tinnitus, appropriate management strategies can be put into place. Sound therapy is one of the most effective treatments for tinnitus because it may make the tinnitus less noticeable.
If you suffer from tinnitus, sadly there is no known cure, but there is relief. First, anyone with tinnitus should see an audiologist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) who is experienced in tinnitus treatment. Once you know the cause of your tinnitus, appropriate management strategies can be put into place. Sound therapy is one of the most effective treatments for tinnitus because it may make the tinnitus less noticeable.
What is Sound Therapy?
Sound therapy is the method used to help minimize the effects of your tinnitus. The most common method to provide sound therapy is through the use of appropriately fit hearing aids. Often times hearing aids on their own are effective at masking tinnitus, however for others, certain hearing aids have built-in technology specifically for tinnitus relief. The important thing to remember before proceeding with any treatment options is to ensure you have had a diagnostic evaluation by a qualified ENT and audiologist to determine the cause of your tinnitus and proceed with appropriate counseling and treatment options.
Sound therapy is the method used to help minimize the effects of your tinnitus. The most common method to provide sound therapy is through the use of appropriately fit hearing aids. Often times hearing aids on their own are effective at masking tinnitus, however for others, certain hearing aids have built-in technology specifically for tinnitus relief. The important thing to remember before proceeding with any treatment options is to ensure you have had a diagnostic evaluation by a qualified ENT and audiologist to determine the cause of your tinnitus and proceed with appropriate counseling and treatment options.
If you have further questions about tinnitus diagnoses, and treatment, please contact our office at (907) 262-3224 to schedule an appointment for a diagnostic evaluation with our audiologist. Relief starts with just a phone call!