Tinnitus
Tinnitus is commonly described as ringing or sound in the ears. It can also sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You may hear it in one or both ears. In the past year, experts estimate that 22.7 million adult Americans experienced tinnitus for more than three months, which is roughly 10 percent of the adult population of the United States. 80% of them do not consider it bothersome but the remaining 20% do.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom that something is wrong within the auditory system, which includes the ear (outer, middle, inner) and the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain and the parts of the brain that process sound.
What causes tinnitus?
- Hearing loss (90%)
- Noise induced trauma
- Trauma to the head or neck
- Ear conditions (ear wax, infection, inflammation, Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, presbycusis, acoustic neuroma, etc.)
- Heart problems, stroke, thyroid disease, drugs, surgery, stress, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, TMJ disorder, GERD, etc.)
What is the impact of tinnitus?
When tinnitus is severe and intrusive it may impact activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life.
- Sleep
- Mood
- Concentration
- Mental health
- Relationships
What should I do if I have tinnitus?
- Receive a comprehensive tinnitus diagnostic evaluation from us.
- With our test results, if indicated, see an otolaryngologist (ENT) to examine your issues medically. The ENT will examine your head, neck, and ears often with imaging such as an MRI and/or a CT scan. Your ENT doctor may refer you to a Neurologist if further examination is required.
- Once you are medically cleared, meaning that you do not have any underlying medical conditions, and you are still bothered by tinnitus, come back to us to discuss tinnitus treatments.
What tinnitus treatment options are available?
There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are several treatment options to help people manage and cope. We combine treatments to create an effective multi approach plan. Treatment methods will be determined based on the severity of your tinnitus, lifestyle, and areas of your life affected most by tinnitus.
TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy)- Combines low level sound (broadband noise, nature sound, and/or music) and educational counseling to achieve the habituation of tinnitus.
Hearing Aids - For those who also have hearing loss, the use of a personal hearing system can improve your hearing and often reduce or eliminate your perception of tinnitus.
Bimodal Neuromodulation (Lenire)- Combines custom audio with mild tongue pulses to stimulate the brain and drive significant relief from tinnitus. It is the first device of its kind to receive a grant of approval from the FDA to treat tinnitus.
Counseling- Can help change the body’s emotional reaction to tinnitus by altering negative thought patterns and learning how to cope and manage stress, anxiety, or depression. This treatment is offered by a counselor or psychologist.
Can I do anything to prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse?
The most common cause of tinnitus is noise induced hearing loss. By limiting your exposure to loud noise, moving away from loud sounds, turning down the volume, or wearing custom earplugs will help prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse. Check out our earplugs page for more information about the custom hearing protection we offer.
Where can I find more information?
- Go to the American Tinnitus Association website at www.ata.org for more information.
- Learn more about Lenire Tinnitus Treatment
