If you hear ringing in your ears, that’s called tinnitus (TIN-nit-us). And if you have tinnitus, you probably know that it isn’t the most pleasant condition! Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss. It can even be a pre-cursor to hearing loss. Seeing a Doctor of Audiology, a hearing doctor, is a good step towards treating your tinnitus!
While there is not currently a cure for tinnitus, there are some treatment options. External noise makers are very popular with tinnitus patients. Whether it be a fan or a noise machine, the external sounds can help relieve your tinnitus. These are most commonly used when patients are trying to sleep, but of course can and should be used as needed throughout the day. There are also some dietary options – like limiting your intake of alcohol, caffeine, and sodium – that have been helpful, as well.
The best treatment option for tinnitus, believe it or not, is hearing aids! Whether you have hearing loss or not, the environmental sounds that are being reintroduced, or just amplified, can distract your brain from paying so much attention to the tinnitus. Some hearing aids even include the option to turn on a masker – which is essentially white noise being played directly into your ear! Patients have been very satisfied with this feature, and have the ability to turn it on and off as needed.
A Doctor of Audiology will first perform a hearing test, to determine if you have any hearing loss at the moment, and whether hearing aids would be beneficial for you at this time. They can answer any questions you may have, and even provide recommendations if you’d like. If you are interested in finding a treatment for your tinnitus, with the help of a Doctor of Audiology, please contact Gardner Audiology in Palm Harbor, FL at 1-800-277-1182 or visit gardneraudiology.com to schedule an appointment.
