What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus sufferers experience a whooshing, buzzing, hissing, or ringing noise in their ears that is not caused by an external source. Tinnitus affects over 50 million Americans. There are many different causes and treatments available.
Tinnitus Symptoms
- Buzzing
- Ringing
- Whooshing
- Clicking
- Hissing
The person experiencing Tinnitus is the only one that can hear the sounds, but a professional can sometimes detect them. The sounds can be constant or intermittent, and sometimes affect the sufferer’s sleep.
Causes Of Tinnitus
The most common causes of tinnitus are as follows:
- Medication
- Ear infection
- Loud noise exposure
- Experiencing trauma to the ear
- Hearing loss
- Buildup of earwax
- Vascular disorders
- Meniere’s disease
Some of these conditions can be resolved easily, and some require treatment that is longer term.
Tinnitus Treatments
Your hearing professional will discuss the different treatment options available, and help you decide which one best suits your needs. There are several treatment options available for relief of your tinnitus symptoms. Earwax removal, medication management, or treatment of infection are some of the things that may be done to resolve the problem. Other treatments include hearing aids, white noise machines, and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). Also addressed may be the emotional issues experienced from living with Tinnitus. What makes Tinnitus so difficult to live with is often the negative cognitive and psychological responses to the condition. Studies have shown cognitive behavioral therapy, combined with other necessary treatment, to be very effective in relieving Tinnitus suffering.
