By minimizing your tinnitus symptoms with the help of professional hearing care, you can improve your quality of life and take control of your hearing health.

What Is Tinnitus, and How Do I Manage It?

by | Oct 31, 2024 | Patient Resources, Tinnitus

Are you hearing ringing, buzzing, or whistling noises in your ears that nobody else seems to be affected by?

You’re not alone: tinnitus, the name for that phantom noise in your ears, affects more than 50 million adults nationwide. It’s not a disease, but rather a symptom of something else, whether that be hearing loss challenges or an unrelated health condition.

Tinnitus does not currently have a cure, but it has many methods of treatment. With the help of professional hearing care, you can say goodbye to that fluttering in your ears for good.

What Is Tinnitus?

From the Latin “tinkle” or “ring like a bell,” tinnitus is the name for the phantom noise in your ears, which can sound like a ringing, whistling, roaring, or buzzing noise.

Tinnitus is most often associated with hearing loss but can also be a symptom of another underlying health issue. Experiencing tinnitus is a common indicator of damage to the inner ear or auditory system.

Tinnitus manifests differently for different people; some are hardly bothered by the slight ringing noise, while others report a great deal of stress from hearing the noise and find that it disrupts their daily lives significantly, including affecting their sleep and social lives.

Types of Tinnitus

Many people experience tinnitus in their lifetime. Primary tinnitus is idiopathic, while secondary tinnitus is often linked to an underlying cause.

A few types of tinnitus include:

Spontaneous tinnitus,

which everyone can experience, typically lasts for less than a minute

Temporary tinnitus,

which is often linked to a specific event, like a loud live event or noise trauma

Intermittent tinnitus,

which occurs every day over a period of weeks

Occasional tinnitus,

which can occur every few weeks over a period of months

Constant tinnitus

is more incessant, and often doesn’t go away

Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of health issues, most notably hearing loss. If you suspect you are experiencing tinnitus, it is important to consult both your audiologist and your physician for a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms.

Potential causes include:

Hearing Loss Challenges:

Tinnitus is very closely linked to hearing loss, as noise-induced hearing loss can lead to tinnitus due to damage to your hearing cells. Age-related hearing loss can also cause tinnitus as a symptom.

Ear Obstructions and Pressure Changes:

Earwax impaction, foreign objects, dirt, or hair buildup all have the ability to influence hearing and cause permanent damage to the inner ear.

Traumatic Injury to the Head, Neck, or Brain:

Significant injury to the head, neck, or brain can severely damage the auditory system. People who experience somatic tinnitus typically report a higher perception of a burden from their symptoms.

Dental Issues:

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder occurs when the temporomandibular joint becomes misaligned, resulting from injury, deterioration, or arthritis. Due to the proximity of the temporomandibular joint being adjacent to the auditory system, TMJ disorder can lead to tinnitus.

Ototoxic Medications:

There are over 200 ototoxic medications available to treat serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretics, and quinine-based drugs are examples of ototoxic medications. Ototoxic medications cause temporary or permanent damage to auditory systems and balance systems, including causing tinnitus.

Treatment Options for Tinnitus

While tinnitus is not curable, there are multiple ways to treat it; by minimizing your symptoms with the help of professional hearing care, you can improve your quality of life and take control of your hearing health.

Treatment for tinnitus can include:

Sound Therapy is often used as a management method for tinnitus. By distracting your brain from the noises associated with tinnitus with soothing background noise, you learn to ignore it.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be offered by a mental health specialist who can help you change your perception of tinnitus in combination with hearing aids and sound therapy.

Hearing Aids can be tuned to allow you to hear more sound than before— effectively distracting your brain from the sound of tinnitus. The use of hearing aids alters the brain’s perception of lost capabilities, thus minimizing tinnitus as a secondary solution.

If you or a loved one is struggling with tinnitus symptoms, please don’t hesitate to contact us to get started on your hearing health journey. By getting started with tinnitus treatment, you can say goodbye to that phantom noise for good!

Please feel free to request a callback or call us at (337) 436-3277.

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Dr. Heidi J Sorrells - Audiologist

Dr. Heidi J. Sorrells obtained her doctorate degree from Salus University in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota. She is a certified audiologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and she holds a Louisiana and a Texas audiology license. Dr. Sorrells enjoys all aspects of working in a private practice audiology clinic but especially loves the challenges of vestibular (balance) assessment and rehabilitation.