Have you ever experienced an annoying ringing or buzzing sound in your ears? If so, you’re not alone. Tinnitus is a common condition that impacts an estimated 50 million Americans each year. If you’ve been to a loud rock concert or fireworks show and had a temporary ringing in your ears afterwards, you’ve likely experienced tinnitus.
For some, tinnitus is only a temporary annoyance. For others, it’s a permanent condition that impacts their everyday lives. So, what causes tinnitus? And how is it treated? Read on for all you need to know.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is often caused by exposure to loud noises, either suddenly or over time. It can also be caused by earwax buildup and certain medications and conditions like otosclerosis (gradual hearing loss due to fused bones in the ears) or Meniere’s disease (a disorder that causes severe vertigo in one ear).
If you’re experiencing persistent tinnitus, you might have an existing hearing loss at a certain frequency. Our brains can hear different frequencies and pitches. If you have a hearing loss at a specific frequency, your brain compensates for the lack of sound and creates its own internal noise – a ringing or buzzing sound.
This is why it’s so important to protect your hearing from loud noises. Always make sure the volume of your headphones and electronic devices is at a safe level, and wear hearing protection when exposed to loud noises.
How Is Tinnitus Treated?
While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are several ways to manage it. Some effective strategies for managing tinnitus symptoms are:
Hearing aids
When your tinnitus is accompanied by a hearing loss, hearing aids can be a great help. When hearing loss is treated, the intensity of tinnitus often decreases.
Sound masking
Sound masking devices help to decrease your awareness of tinnitus noises. Many digital hearing aids are equipped with sound masking technology. These devices emit a “white noise” that’s designed to provide a distraction.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)
TRT is a holistic approach to treating the symptoms of tinnitus. It involves training your brain to perceive the sounds of tinnitus in a different way. TRT includes coping tools to help you deal with the emotional side effects of tinnitus, like anger and depression.
If you have tinnitus symptoms, it’s important to get it checked out as soon as you can.
Tinnitus Treatment at Mass Hearing Specialists
Our team of hearing care professionals at Mass Hearing Specialists can help you manage your tinnitus symptoms with professional hearing healthcare.
We have been helping local people in Massachusetts hear better for more than ten years and are trusted by top local physicians.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of tinnitus or hearing loss, don’t delay seeking treatment.
You can get in touch with us by calling our office at (978) 425-9289.
