Dealing with tinnitus can be challenging, as it involves the persistent presence of ringing, buzzing or whooshing noises in the ear. Without treatment, tinnitus can cause emotional struggles, heightened stress levels and other potential health issues. Fortunately, there are strategies and support available to help improve your experience with tinnitus. The dedicated team at the Audiology Center at ENT Physicians is ready to assist you on this journey.
The Many Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is usually a symptom of an underlying health issue. It can be caused by many things, including:
- Hearing loss
- Stress and depression
- Head and neck injuries
- Medication
- Aging
- Earwax blockages and buildup
- Exposure to loud noises
Our first step will be figuring out which of these underlying conditions may be causing your tinnitus. It’s possible that we’ll be able to address the underlying concern and stop your tinnitus in its tracks.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
There are several ways to treat tinnitus. Our audiologists do so through sound therapy, hearing aids, and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). The best option for you can vary based on the information we gather during your testing and consultation for tinnitus.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy involves using various sounds to help the brain remove focus from your tinnitus. This tends to diminish the emotional impact of the symptoms and can help you live a more enjoyable, calm life with your tinnitus diagnosis.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are another common tinnitus treatment option. Many modern devices have built-in features that mask tinnitus sounds. This essentially means that your tinnitus symptoms will be significantly reduced whenever you have your hearing aid turned on.
We can help you find a hearing aid with these features if our audiologists feel it’s the right path forward for your tinnitus. That answer can vary based on information gathered during testing.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Finally, we also offer tinnitus retraining therapy. This is a form of care designed to retrain the brain. Its goal is to help your brain naturally pay less attention to the tinnitus, so you can live a normal life without the emotional and behavioral difficulties many experience with untreated symptoms.
After a course of TRT, we’ll recommend a maintenance care plan to help you retain the improvements you make throughout treatment. This can help you manage your tinnitus long-term to ensure it doesn’t come back as severely you’re experiencing it now.