Tinnitus Relief
Silence Please – Stop This Ringing in My Ears!
By Barbara J. Madden, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology
“Ringing”, “buzzing”, “whooshing noises in my ears”, “crickets in my head”; people use these words and phrases, plus countless others, to describe and explain the sounds in their ears and in their heads. Tinnitus can disrupt quality of life, and it may affect overall health.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, millions of Americans experience tinnitus, which is defined as “the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present”. In addition to reporting these annoying noises in the ears, patients often disclose other problematic issues, such as inability to sleep, difficulty concentrating, trouble finding peaceful quiet time and general emotional unrest.
As audiologists and licensed hearing instrument specialists, we hear reports of this symptom numerous times per day. In fact, many patients come to the clinic in search of help for ‘ringing in their ears’, not necessarily difficulty with hearing. Tinnitus can also be frightening to people, especially if its onset is sudden and it lasts for an extended period of time.
In some cases, tinnitus may be caused by an easily explainable factor such as excessive noise exposure, occluding ear wax, heredity, a side effect of medication, head injury, ear infection, and most commonly, hearing loss. However, in most cases, the cause is idiopathic, which means we don’t know the direct cause of the symptom.
When describing their tinnitus, frequency and duration are often cited by patients as either momentary, occasional, frequent, constant, random, erratic, situation-induced or a combination of factors. Although somewhat rare, there are cases in which people report hearing music in their ears.
Regardless of the suspected cause of tinnitus or how it is characterized, investigation by a licensed hearing care provider is always recommended and should include a visual check of the ear canals, followed by a thorough audiometric test, and if indicated, examination by an otologist or Ear, Nose and Throat physician, to rule out any medical conditions or complications.
Once a patient has been medically cleared of ear pathology, the hearing care provider may suggest a tinnitus treatment plan, possibly in combination with hearing aids. In recent years, prescriptive digital hearing aids include additional features to help with the management of tinnitus. Called Tinnitus Sound Generators, they can assist patients with habituation and suppression of their annoying tinnitus symptoms. It is critically important that the hearing aids be programmed appropriately by a licensed professional and that the tinnitus feature is activated and set at the optimal levels.
For people with normal hearing, who do not need the amplification of hearing aids, there are several inexpensive and easily accessible options available to aid with coping and minimizing the stresses associated with tinnitus, including free Smartphone apps offering sound therapy, relaxation techniques, and personal coping strategies. A variety of bedside tinnitus maskers and sound machines are available through online distributors and local retail stores. Most importantly, if you, or someone you love, deal with troublesome tinnitus, do not despair. Do not give up hope. Seek guidance and care from a trusted professional. The licensed audiologists and hearing instrument specialists at Hearing Healthcare Center are available for consultation. Call 864-232-3999 for a no-obligation appointment. We look forward to helping you.