Hearing is one of the senses that people rely on for safety and social interaction each day. Maintaining your hearing is important because there are some auditory conditions that could have a negative impact on your day-to-day life. One of these conditions is tinnitus.
Originating from the Latin word for ringing (tinnire), tinnitus is a serious condition that is accompanied by noise disruption in the inner ear. Living with tinnitus can be challenging, so learning all you can about this auditory condition is essential when it comes to the effective management of your tinnitus.
What causes tinnitus?
It is widely believed that tinnitus is most commonly the result of extended exposure to loud noise. These loud noises can damage the delicate anatomy of your inner ear, changing the way your body processes sound.
Some forms of tinnitus can be induced by physical changes to the body. Accidents involving head or neck trauma can cause tinnitus, as can extremely high or low blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of tinnitus?
Tinnitus is characterized by a constant and steady sound in the ears. This sound can take the form of ringing, buzzing, ticking, or whooshing. Subjective tinnitus can only be heard by the affected individual.
Rarer cases of objective tinnitus result in sounds that can be heard by both the patient and the diagnosing audiologist. Both forms of tinnitus can lead to anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, and compromised hearing. Diagnosing and treating tinnitus early can be helpful in managing the negative side effects of this auditory condition.
How is tinnitus treated?
While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are some things that you can do to help manage your symptoms. Many people find that taking medications for the emotional stress brought on by tinnitus can be beneficial.
Sound therapy can also help alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus. Using music, nature sounds, or a machine that produces white noise can help you reduce the effects of tinnitus on your day-to-day life. If you are experiencing any hearing loss associated with your tinnitus, your audiologist may prescribe you a hearing device to help you amplify sound.
Working closely with an audiologist at clinics like Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat, PC is key when it comes to diagnosing and managing your tinnitus. Your audiologist will be able to perform a series of tests to determine how advanced your tinnitus symptoms are, then create a personalized management strategy that will minimize the negative effect tinnitus has on your life.
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