That constant ringing, buzzing or whistling in your ears can make it hard to focus on daily tasks or get a good night’s sleep. The hearing professionals at Next Era Hearing understand how tinnitus can affect your quality of life and make it difficult to enjoy quiet moments or follow conversations. We take time to learn about your experience with tinnitus, including what makes it better or worse during your day. Through careful testing, we can find out what might be causing these sounds and create a plan to help reduce your tinnitus. Our goal is to help you find relief so you can focus on the sounds you want to hear.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sounds, like ringing, buzzing or hissing, when no external noise is present. It can make everyday tasks, like having conversations or listening to music, difficult. Tinnitus can impact your quality of life, but with the right treatment and support, it’s possible to treat tinnitus symptoms and feel better.
What are the Causes of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom of another underlying condition. Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of factors, and understanding the underlying reason is key to finding the right treatment. Several causes include:
- Hearing loss
- Frequent exposure to loud noises
- Earwax blockages
- Head and neck injuries
- Aging
- Vascular disorders
- Meniere’s disease
We’ll start by reviewing your medical history and performing a physical exam. This helps us identify the cause of your tinnitus and allows us to find the right treatment for your unique needs.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is a common treatment for tinnitus that uses background noise to help mask the ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears. This could involve listening to white noise, nature sounds or other soothing sounds through a speaker or headphones. The goal is to make the tinnitus less noticeable and help you focus on more pleasant sounds. A hearing professional work with you to find the best sound therapy options that fit your needs and lifestyle, making it easier to manage the symptoms of tinnitus.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are another one of the most common ways to treat tinnitus. Modern devices are often equipped with tinnitus-masking features. This blocks out the ringing or whooshing sound to help provide relief. Tinnitus often occurs alongside hearing loss, especially as we get older. Hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features can help with both issues at once.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Tinnitus retraining therapy is a treatment that aims to help your brain adjust to the sounds of tinnitus, making it less noticeable over time. It uses sound therapy to provide soothing background noise, helping you focus on other sounds and tune out the ringing or buzzing. Along with sound therapy, you’ll learn relaxation techniques and ways to cope with tinnitus more effectively. While it takes time, TRT is designed to lessen the intensity of tinnitus and improve how you manage it day-to-day.