Most people have experienced a ringing or similar sound in their ears from time to time. But, some people experience that ringing sound all the time. These people are experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus. Right now, over 25 million people in America live with permanent tinnitus. Only some of them are seeking treatment.
Many believe that those who experience tinnitus have their normal hearing process disrupted. When something interferes with sound waves, they will hear a ringing or similar sound. This is common when there are no external sounds present. There are various known causes of tinnitus, which include:
- Sinus infections
- Hormone fluctuations
- Meniere's disease
- Ear infections
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Thyroid problems
- Medications that affect nerves
If you have tinnitus or hearing loss, it's best to speak with a licensed audiologist. They can identify the cause of your tinnitus or hearing loss. Then, they will recommend the right treatment options for you. This can include wearing hearing aids or using white-noise therapy.
It's important to realize that tinnitus is a symptom, not a condition. But, it can come on as a variety of different noises in the ears. Some of the most experienced sounds include:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Roaring
- Whistling
- Hissing
Some people will tell their hearing care professional that the noise lasts all the time. Others will have it happen every so often. Regardless of how ear ringing affects you, it's vital that you seek help from an audiologist. They will be able to diagnose any underlying conditions. They will also provide you with an effective treatment option. Even those who wear hearing aids can get help with this ear ringing.
Treating tinnitus starts with identifying its root cause. In some cases, tinnitus is a symptom of a temporary condition. This can include things like a sinus or ear infection. If this is the case, your physician will treat the root cause of the situation. Once you fix the underlying cause, your tinnitus should go away on its own with time.
In other cases, you may need to treat tinnitus with noise-producing machines. The idea is that hearing aids or similar devices will produce a low level of white noise. This will help to drown out the ringing or other noise that the patient is dealing with. These hearing aid applications help patients learn skills for coping with the ringing.
