“Finally, the ringing in my ears stopped.”
Quick Tinnitus Test
- Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking or hissing sound in your ears?
- Do you hear this often or all the time?
- Does the sound bother you a lot?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have tinnitus (tin-NY-tus), and you should talk to your hearing aid specialist. Tinnitus therapy was designed to quiet the noise in your ears and may be right for you.
To find out more about Tinnitus, read:
What Causes Tinnitus?
Roughly 25 million Americans have experience tinnitus, a symptom associated with many forms of hearing problems. (It can also be a symptom of other health problems.)
Tinnitus is typically caused by:
- Hearing Loss—Most people who have tinnitus also have some kind of hearing loss.
- Loud Noise—Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Continued exposure can make the tinnitus and hearing loss become worse.
- Medication—More than 200 medicines, including aspirin, can cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and you take medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine could be the cause.
- Other potential causes. Allergies, tumors, problems in the heart and blood vessels, jaw and neck can cause tinnitus.
What Should I do if I Have Tinnitus?
The first step is to see call and talk to us, schedule a visit with one of our hearing aid specialists for an evaluation. A careful history and audiometric testing will determine the most likely causes and best treatment for your tinnitus. You may be referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to complete the diagnosis.
Types of Tinnitus Treatments
A careful review of your health history along with audiometric testing will identify which of the following is the right treatment option:
- Hearing Aids—Hearing aids create a dual benefit of enhancing hearing and masking or covering up the tinnitus. The majority of patients with tinnitus receive partial or complete relief from their tinnitus with the use of hearing aids.
- Maskers—Tinnitus maskers are small electronic devices that look like hearing aids and are tuned to generate sound that masks or covers up the tinnitus.
- Drug Therapy—Certain medicines may provide some relief from tinnitus. Nutritional supplements may also provide additional relief.
- Allergy Treatment—Allergies can exacerbate tinnitus. If you test positive for allergies treatment can have the dual effect of reducing the ringing in your ears and giving you a big boost in energy.
What Can I Do to Help Myself?
Avoid anything that can make your tinnitus worse, such as smoking, alcohol and loud noise. If you are a construction worker, an airport worker, a hunter, or if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at home or at work, wear ear plugs or special earmuffs to protect your hearing and keep your tinnitus from getting worse.
If it is hard for you to hear over your tinnitus, ask your friends and family to face you when they talk so you can see their faces. Seeing their expressions may help you understand them better. Ask people to speak louder but not shout. Also, tell them they do not have to talk slowly, just more clearly.
Tinnitus Therapy
Tinnitus therapy works, and we urge you to talk to a professional hearing aid specialist and put an end to the ringing in your ears.
The first step is to schedule an appointment to have your tinnitus evaluated. There may be other medical issues behind the tinnitus, and it is important to rule out anything else that may affect your overall health.
Brian L. says…
“For ten years I have been wearing expensive hearing aids. They were never right, uncomfortable and poor clarity. I went to their Gainesville Practice and did not receive a high-pitched sales gimmick; they spent hours with me, testing me by using highly technical computers. The results were life changing. The hearing aids are comfortable with excellent clarity. Liliana and staff are truly professional and compassionate people.”