Millions of Americans deal with some form of tinnitus annually, and approximately five million of them deal with the debilitating effects of chronic tinnitus each and every day.
Chronic tinnitus can make it difficult for those individuals to focus or fall asleep and affect moods in the valiant attempt to listen past the noise of tinnitus. While the cause and cure for tinnitus have not yet been found (watch this space!), there are several methods of treatment to ease the effects of tinnitus.
Dealing with tinnitus? You can rest assured that our team of professional audiologists will help look after your unique ears with effective relief for tinnitus symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tinnitus
Q. What is the cause of tinnitus?
A. The prevailing theory, connecting tinnitus to hearing loss, is the Central Gain Theory, which asserts that tinnitus is the result of your brain adapting and creating sounds that are no longer received through the normal hearing process. This phenomenon is similar to “phantom limb” experienced by amputees. Essentially, tinnitus is a neurological response to a variety of conditions, such as:
- Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
- Ear infection or ear canal blockage
- Head or neck injuries
- Ototoxic medications
- Meniere's disease
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Ear bone changes
- Muscle spasms in the inner ear
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Acoustic neuroma or other head and neck tumors
- Blood vessel disorders
- Chronic conditions that can include diabetes, thyroid problems, migraines, anemia, and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
Q. Can tinnitus be permanently cured?
A. The only forms of tinnitus that can be permanently cured are those types that are caused by a treatable underlying health condition, which might include:
- Earwax removal
- Removal of growths or tumors
- Reducing inflammation
- Treating a blood vessel condition
- Making changes to your medications
Q. Can tinnitus cure itself?
A. Only temporary tinnitus, which is the ringing in your ears you may have experienced after attending a game in a noisy stadium, a loud concert, loud music from a nightclub, or from discharging a firearm without wearing ear protection can “cure itself.”
Q. What happens if tinnitus is left untreated?
A. Left untreated, tinnitus tends to get worse. As tinnitus symptoms become increasingly noticeable, increased awareness causes stress, stirring up your brain’s emotional centers, adding to the intensity of the sound and your awareness of it in a snowball effect.
Q. Is there any way to relieve tinnitus?
A. Various tinnitus management technologies and techniques can provide relieve, such as:
- Medication Therapy (to help with stress, anxiety, and/or lack of sleep)
- Sound Therapy (to help disrupt the neural signals from tinnitus)
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (a form of habituation therapy)
- Hearing Aids (corrects accompanying hearing loss and reduces tinnitus symptom awareness)
- Alternative Therapies (biofeedback and coping and relaxation techniques to limit the effects of stress and anxiety)
Q. Is tinnitus treatment covered by insurance?
A. Most private insurance companies do not provide coverage for tinnitus treatment, but some VA assistance is available, and some occupations might be covered under Workers Compensation.
How Do I Manage My Tinnitus?
Everyone experiences tinnitus differently; some describe it as a ringing sound, while others hear buzzing, humming, or whooshing that comes and goes or is constant. No two forms of tinnitus are the same, so no two forms of treatment will be identical, either.
Before we address your tinnitus symptoms, you will have a hearing test that can help you and your audiologist determine conditions that could’ve contributed to your tinnitus, such as:
- Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
- Ear infection or ear canal blockage
- Head or neck injuries
- Ototoxic medications
- Meniere’s disease
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Ear bone changes
- Muscle spasms in the inner ear
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Acoustic neuroma or other head and neck tumors
- Blood vessel disorders
- Chronic conditions that can include diabetes, thyroid problems, migraines, anemia, and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
If your hearing test shows one or more of these conditions, you can treat your tinnitus with hearing aids, in-office or surgical procedures, or sound therapy like tinnitus retraining therapy.
Tinnitus has no cure, but it can be treated. Our tinnitus experts are here to help ensure that you get the best tinnitus treatment for your unique needs, which may include:
Hearing Aids
Hearing loss and tinnitus often go hand in hand, as the same damage that causes hearing impairments often contributes to tinnitus. In addition, when an individual is experiencing a hearing loss, the lack of sound or muffled sound often makes them more aware of their tinnitus. Hearing aids help correct hearing loss and provide new sound for you to hear, helping you focus on that instead of your tinnitus sounds.
Sound Maskers
These work to cover your tinnitus with better noises to focus on, so you learn to listen for soothing tones instead of the noise of tinnitus. There are several countertop or in-the-ear devices available, like white noise machines or other masking devices that can produce environmental white noise/music to mask and decrease tinnitus sound awareness.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
TRT helps your brain perceive your tinnitus in a different way. This behavioral therapy includes personalized treatment that helps you cope with the emotional difficulties that often accompany tinnitus, like depression, anxiety, stress, or anger. TRT works to decrease your awareness of your tinnitus symptoms, helping you regain your active, independent lifestyle without the stress of tinnitus.
Schedule Your Tinnitus Assessment
Is your tinnitus making it hard for you to sleep, focus, and continue to enjoy your active lifestyle? Luckily, with the help of our professional and passionate team, you can finally rest easily with a better understanding of your tinnitus symptoms.
With professional advice, top-tier treatment, and the best audiological technology on this side of the Bay Area, we’re here to help you with any and all hearing health concerns. Please contact us with this form, and we’ll get in touch with you with more information.
You Might Also Like
Can Stress Cause Tinnitus?
Preserving the Sound of Music: An Audiologist’s Role in Safeguarding Musicians’ Hearing Health
