Some people call it “ringing” in the ears. Others hear screeching, whistling, roaring, buzzing or whirring. No matter what you call it, it’s more common than you think. Tinnitus can be temporary or permanent and it can range from mildly annoying to debilitating. Tinnitus can cause problems with concentration, sleeping and even relationships. Peninsula Hearing can evaluate your tinnitus to determine the nature and severity and provide treatment to give you relief.
Causes of tinnitus
Tinnitus is a symptom of another condition. It can be caused by medical conditions like high blood pressure or an ear infection. When the underlying condition (high blood pressure or infection) is treated the tinnitus disappears. Other causes of tinnitus aren’t as easy to identify or treat.
These include:
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Injury to the neck or head
- Exposure to loud noise
- Ototoxic drugs
- Meniere’s diseaseTemporomandibular joint problems
Almost 50 million people in the US must deal with tinnitus and it is most common in people over the age of 60. If you suffer from tinnitus, you are not alone.
Tinnitus treatment
Depending on the cause of your tinnitus, several treatment options are available.
Wearing hearing aids can return background noise to normal levels and provide additional sensory input to the brain if hearing loss is present. Since undiagnosed hearing loss is the most common cause of tinnitus, hearing aids are often highly effective in controlling tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy retrains how your brain perceives tinnitus. This therapy teaches your brain to ignore tinnitus sounds.
Tinnitus sound therapy uses external noise order to alter the reaction to tinnitus. Sound masking devices and modified-sound devices modify the perception of tinnitus and with proper use can provide relief long after the devices are turned off.
Peninsula Hearing is a member of the Tinnitus Practitioners Association and the American Tinnitus Association, so we have a deep understanding of tinnitus and up-to-date on the latest and most effective strategies for treating tinnitus.
Tinnitus resources
At this time, tinnitus cannot be cured. Peninsula Hearing will work with you to identify the underlying causes for your tinnitus and reduce the negative impact of tinnitus on your life. We may suggest changes to your diet or medications to help with your symptoms.
While many “all natural” and herbal remedies are sold on the internet to help with tinnitus, they are not backed by solid medical science. Before spending your money on these pills, try one or more of the following:
- Reduce exposure to loud noise
- Control your blood pressure
- Reduce salt intake
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption