Tinnitus Mapping

“I keep hearing this ringing noise in my ears and it’s driving me crazy.”

Does this happen to sound like you or someone you may know? Do you hear a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking sound often or throughout the entire day? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, you may be experiencing a condition called tinnitus. While there is no known “cure” for tinnitus, there are many tinnitus management options to help you manage the noise in your ears.

The Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a symptom that is generally associated with many forms of hearing problems. Tinnitus is usually caused by:

Hearing Loss

Many people with tinnitus also have, to a certain degree, hearing loss

Medication

Tinnitus can be caused by over 200 medications, including aspirin. If you’re experiencing tinnitus and take medication, you may want to speak to your doctor or pharmacist and determine whether the medicine you are taking could be the cause of your tinnitus.

Medical Conditions

Tinnitus has been associated as a symptom of multiple medical conditions, such as immune disorders, head trauma, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Hormones have also been known to cause tinnitus, particularly during pregnancy.

Management Options

Your health history and the results of your audiometric testing will determine the likely causes and best treatment options for your tinnitus. These management options include:

Drug Therapy

Specific medications may help provide some relief from tinnitus.

Sound Therapy

Hearing aid technology has advanced to incorporate various forms of sound therapy to provide relief for those dealing with tinnitus. A wide range of noises, either amplified or not, can be used as a management option for tinnitus. Typically, sound therapy is accompanied by counseling, education, and stress reduction.

Hearing Aids

The use of hearing devices can actually bring you dual benefits. Hearing aids can help enhancing hearing while also “masking” the sounds of tinnitus. In fact, over 60% of hearing aid wearers reported experiencing partial or complete relief from their tinnitus symptoms.

The Next Step

It is important to rule out hearing loss as a cause for tinnitus as it is often experienced a symptom of another condition. If you have been experiencing tinnitus symptoms or ringing in your ears, it is best to schedule an appointment with our experienced audiologist to have your tinnitus professionally evaluated.

Have more questions? Feel free to reach out to us!