Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound. Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets" or "tree frogs" or "locusts", tunes, songs, or beeping.
Over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of adults have prolonged tinnitus requiring medical attention.
Tinnitus can be intermittent or it can be continuous. In the latter case, this "phantom" sound can create great distress in the sufferer. Tinnitus is not a disease but rather a symptom of underlying causes. If you feel you are experiencing abnormal ringing in the ears please contact an experienced audiologists for a screening.
What can cause tinnitus?
- Injury from loud noises
- A side-effect of some oral medications, such as aspirin
- Vascular disorders
- Ear infections
- Foreign objects
- Wax in the ear
- Nose allergies that prevent (or induce) fluid drain and cause wax build-up
- Abnormally low level of serotonin activity
- Side effect of Quinidine, a Class IA anti-arrhythmic
Chronic tinnitus sufferers experience the following distressing symptoms:
- Inability to relax
- Loss of sleep
- Anxiety and depression
- Lack of concentration
- Negative impact on work, family, and social life
- Hyperacusis, or sensitivity to loud sounds
Tinnitus and hearing loss can be permanent conditions, thus, precautionary measures are advisable. If a ringing in the ears is audible after exposure to a loud environment, such as a rock concert or a work place, it means that damage may have already been done. Prolonged exposure to noise levels as low as 70 dB can result in damage to hearing also.
What can be done about tinnitus?
The Better Hearing Institute reports that six out of 10 patients have some relief of their tinnitus when using their hearing aids. The institute also found that nine million Americans have not sought help for their tinnitus because they believed nothing could be done about it.
Among the options for managing tinnitus are:
- Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment Program
The Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment is clinically proven to offer long-term significant relief from tinnitus. This patented treatment method is FDA-cleared, non-invasive, and customized for each patient to address the root causes of tinnitus disturbance. The Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment is designed to interact, interrupt and desensitize tinnitus disturbance, changing how the brain perceives the tinnitus sounds. It is the most comprehensive long-term therapy that targets the neurological, audiological, and psychological basis of tinnitus.
Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment addresses the underlying neurological basis of tinnitus. It works with a small, lightweight Oasis device with headphones delivers precisely designed music embedded with a pleasant acoustic neural stimulus. These sounds, customized for each user’s audiological profile, stimulate the auditory pathway to promote neural plastic changes. Over time, these new connections help the brain to filter out tinnitus disturbance, providing long-term relief from symptoms. Treatment occurs over approximately 6 months.
- The Inhibitor Tinnitus Treatment Device
The Inhibitor is a hand-held device that emits a 60-second ultrasonic signal that provides temporary relief from Tinnitus. 70-75% of patients treated with the device have noticed either a total or partial reduction in the loudness of their Tinnitus. The benefit of the relief ranges from minutes to hours to days, and in some cases weeks!
After a successful treatment program, your audiologist will work with you to develop a maintenance program you can use to continue to control your tinnitus on your own.
Tinnitus is usually accompanied by a hearing loss. So if you are experiencing ringing or buzzing in your ears, contact a licensed audiologists and have your hearing evaluated.
