Managing tinnitus is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to provide you with accurate information, personalized care, and support every step of the way.
Tinnitus is known to be a sound heard by a person without any actual outside source. People diagnosed with tinnitus describe the condition as hearing a ringing, hissing or thumping sound.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus. Around 20 million people struggle with chronic tinnitus, and approximately 2 million suffer from extreme and debilitating cases.
When you look at this data, it reveals that tinnitus is actually a common condition.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about various treatment methods and strategies to address tinnitus and its accompanying symptoms.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
While there is no known cure for tinnitus yet, there are many available treatment options that can help alleviate symptoms and make the condition more bearable.
Below are some things that may help reduce the severity of tinnitus:
- Avoiding loud noises: When you are exposed to loud noises, your hair cells in the inner ear can get damaged, which could aggravate your tinnitus symptoms. Make sure to protect your ears from loud noise by wearing appropriate hearing protection.
- Proper diagnosis: Tinnitus can be caused by underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, ear infections, or thyroid problems. Treating these underlying conditions can often help reduce tinnitus symptoms or make it go away.
- Sound therapy: Sound therapy can help lessen the perception of tinnitus by masking the sound of tinnitus with external sounds, such as music or white noise.
- Stress management: Stress, worry, and anxiety can aggravate tinnitus symptoms. Learning how to manage stress through relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing can help make tinnitus more bearable.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This can help you change the way you respond to and perceive tinnitus. A shift in perspective can help reduce the negative impact of tinnitus on your daily life.
Keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another. Additionally, it may take time to find the right combination of tinnitus treatments that would work for you.
It’s best to work with a medical professional who specializes in tinnitus treatment to develop a personalized treatment plan.
What causes tinnitus?
The most common cause of tinnitus is reported to be inner ear hair cell damage.
Normally, the tiny and delicate hairs of the inner ear move with the pressure of sound waves which then trigger the cells to release an electrical signal from the auditory nerve to the brain, which are then interpreted as sound. In short, the hairs of the inner ear work as a “transporter” of sound.
If the hairs of the inner ear are bent, broken, or flat-out damaged, they can send random and uncalled-for electrical impulses to the brain, thereby causing tinnitus.
Another cause of tinnitus is age-related hearing loss, scientifically referred to as presbycusis.
How to prevent tinnitus?
- Make sure to keep your yearly appointments with your doctor and be vigilant in getting your annual blood work.
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. No need to enroll in a gym or run a marathon – a short walk around the neighborhood or a brief treadmill run can do a lot of wonders to keep tinnitus at bay.
- Address your existing health conditions.
- Use hearing protection. Loud noises can damage the delicate hairs in the inner ear, which is a main cause of tinnitus. Have you ever noticed that your ears seem to “ring” when you suddenly hear a very loud noise? That’s a preview of what tinnitus sounds like. Make sure to use hearing protection to avoid damaging your hearing.
- Keep the volume at moderate levels. There’s something just so satisfying when listening to your favorite music, but make sure to keep the volume at an ear-friendly level.
Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment in Fort Wayne, IN
HearCare Audiology provides tinnitus diagnosis and treatment in Fort Wane, IN, and nearby locations.
Our team is here to partner with you in your journey towards better hearing health. We will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan, referring you to specialists if necessary, and provide ongoing support and service to help you manage tinnitus and your hearing.
Schedule an appointment with us today!