It is estimated nearly 15% of the population experiences some form of tinnitus. Tinnitus is typically defined as a perception of noise or ringing in the ears that the individual hears, and others do not. It varies greatly depending on the individual. Some people describe it as ringing, whooshing, cicadas, crickets, or an electrical hum, just to name a few. Tinnitus can be in one ear, both ears, constant, intermittent, and can fluctuate in volume. This is partially what makes defining tinnitus so difficult. For some, tinnitus is bothersome but does not affect their daily living. Others hardly notice it all. And for some, it can be debilitating and impact sleep patterns and daily activities.
Many people are told there is no cure for tinnitus, and for the most part, that is correct. However, the first step is to try to determine the root of the problem. Potential causes of tinnitus can be hearing loss, excessive ear wax, ear infection, medications, or noise exposure. At Gardner Audiology in Tampa Bay, we assess your hearing system, including checking your ears for wax and testing your hearing to see if we find any potential medical causes of your tinnitus. If this is the case, we make appropriate referrals based on our findings, so you can access the help you need.
If we do not find any potential medical causes of your tinnitus, we will investigate different treatment options. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are several directions you can go in to find relief. If you have hearing loss (often associated with tinnitus), hearing aids are often very effective at reducing the noises in your ears. For those with very bothersome tinnitus, we can also use sound therapy to decrease your tinnitus. Sound therapy involves listening to a low-level sound (typically a white noise), throughout the day to make your tinnitus less noticeable. Tinnitus is typically most noticeable in quiet situations. With sound therapy, the low-level sound helps distract the brain away from the bothersome ringing in your ears and eliminates being in a completely quiet environment.
During your consultation with one of our Doctors of Audiology, we can discuss the best options for you based on your tinnitus and concerns. To schedule an appointment today, please contact us at 1-800-277-1182, or info@gardneraudiology.com
