Have you noticed a ringing, buzzing or whistling sensation in your ears lately? Perhaps you’re wondering why no one around you seems bothered by the incessant humming? If you’re experiencing either of these two scenarios, you might be suffering from tinnitus. Tinnitus, described as a ringing-in-the-ear sensation, is a condition that affects one in five people. While tinnitus isn’t generally a serious condition, it can become a nuisance if left untreated.
Tinnitus isn’t a condition that can be cured, but there are a variety of treatment and relief options. The professionals at Keystone Audiology are experienced in not only diagnosing and treating tinnitus, but also helping you understand more about the disorder.
Symptoms of tinnitus
Tinnitus is described as hearing a constant noise – one that actually isn’t being projected by external stimuli. Common symptoms of tinnitus include: constant buzzing, hissing, clicking, ringing and even roaring in your ears. These sounds can interfere with your daily life, especially in a job that requires concentration. Some people experience short periods of tinnitus that come and go, while others suffer through the constant sound for extended amounts of time. If you have tinnitus, you may not even realize you’re plagued by the constant ringing or buzzing sensation unless you’re in complete silence.
What causes tinnitus?
While not all causes of tinnitus are completely understood, there are some factors we know contribute to individuals developing the condition. These include:
- Earwax: Buildup of earwax can cause temporary tinnitus. If this is the cause of your tinnitus, removing the wax should get rid of the symptoms.
- Head trauma: From general trauma to your skull to issues developed from surgery, any kind of injury to your head or ears can cause you to experience tinnitus symptoms.
- Medication: While you may not realize it, many medications can list tinnitus symptoms as a side effect of the drug. If you suspect this might be the cause of your tinnitus, speak with your physician about adjusting or switching medications.
- Noise: Loud noise isn’t just damaging to your hearing – it can cause tinnitus. If you’ve been exposed to semi-loud noises continuously throughout your day-to-day life, or if you were subjected to extremely loud bursts of noises, this could be the cause of your tinnitus.
Treating tinnitus
While tinnitus isn’t considered a life-threatening condition, you may not realize how debilitating it is to the rest of your life. People suffering from tinnitus without seeking treatment or relief options often experience depression, anxiety and social withdrawal. That’s why it’s important to take control of your health if you think you’re suffering from tinnitus.
At Keystone Audiology, our audiologists are familiar with and capable when it comes to tinnitus treatments. While there are a variety of treatment options available, our professionals have seen the most success with hearing aids. Because hearing aids are designed to help individuals with hearing loss tune in the right sounds, these devices can be programmed to help you mask the tinnitus symptoms you’re experiencing. With the right settings and programs, a hearing aid may help block out your tinnitus completely.
Take control of your hearing health
Awareness of tinnitus has made treatment options more widespread. And since the symptoms are tied so much to other conditions, it’s important to seek out help as soon as possible. The good news is tinnitus treatment can be fast, easy and completely painless. Call our office today and schedule an appointment with one of our audiologists to treat your tinnitus.