Tinnitus is a condition that causes a ringing sound in the ears. In some cases, you won’t hear a ringing but will hear a clicking, roaring, buzzing, hissing, and humming sounds. According to the CDC, ten percent of adults in the United States and 25 million Americans have experienced tinnitus for at least five minutes in the past year.
If you have tinnitus, it’s best to understand your condition and seek Tinnitus Therapy Treatment.
Causes Of Tinnitus
According to the Mayo Clinic, several issues can cause tinnitus, including:
- Hearing loss
- Ear infection
- Ear canal blockage
- TMJ
- Medications, such as NSAIDs, cancer drugs, water pills, antidepressants, and certain antibiotics
- Head and neck injuries that have affected the inner ear
Complications
Tinnitus affects everyone differently, and failing to treat the condition can affect you in several ways, including:
- Stress
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Memory problems
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Frequent headaches
The complications of tinnitus can affect your quality of life; therefore, it’s best to see a doctor who can confirm the diagnosis and start you on the best treatment to based on your condition and the cause. The longer you wait to see a doctor, the longer you’ll be miserable.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatment options available to manage the condition, including:
- Improve your overall health through diet, exercise, stress reduction, hobbies, and social activity.
- Hearing aids will help if your condition is due to some level of hearing loss. Sound-based therapy is a common treatment, and four types can be helpful.
- Making exposes you to an external sound that’s loud enough to mask the sound of the ringing.
- Distraction uses external sounds to divert your attention from the ringing.
- Habituation helps your brain reclassify the sound as an unimportant sound that can be ignored.
Neuromodulation involves using a specialized sound to reduce neural hyperactivity, which is said to be an underlying cause of this condition.
Drug therapy with antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and over-the-counter drugs and supplements. There are no FDA-approved medications designed specifically for tinnitus, but other drugs can help.
TMJ treatment can help improve your condition if TMJ is the cause, and a mouth guard, dental treatment, or bite realignment can help.
Prevention
If you can prevent yourself from developing tinnitus, it’s better than dealing with the condition and receiving treatment. Fortunately, you can do a few simple things to avoid this condition.
- Avoiding loud sounds can prevent tinnitus. If you’re using a chainsaw, using loud machinery at work, in or watching a live band, or using firearms, always wear ear protection to reduce the sounds.
- When listening to music with headphones, keep the volume down.
- Eating right and regular exercise can help if your condition is linked to blood vessel disorders or obesity.
Using caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol in excess can affect blood flow, leading to tinnitus.
If you think you have tinnitus, it’s best to see an ENT and an audiologist. After being diagnosed, start treatment to improve your quality of life.
