A Comprehensive Guide to Tinnitus

Tinnitus is one of the most common ear problems that many people have, and it can be hard to live with. Even though it happens to a lot of people, not much is known about it. Most studies don’t show clear evidence of what causes it or how to get rid of it. But there are some things that are true about tinnitus and how it affects different people.

The Sounds of Tinnitus Vary

Tinnitus can sound like a whooshing, ringing, hissing, buzzing or pulsing noise that seems to come from inside the ear. You are the only one who can hear the sound, and its volume can change. It could also happen all the time or come and go.

Tinnitus comes in three main forms. Pulsatile tinnitus sounds like waves that come and go in time with your heartbeat. Tonal tinnitus is a type of ringing in the ears where the sounds stay in a certain range of frequencies and are almost always there. On the other hand, musical tinnitus makes you hear songs or singing.

Tinnitus Triggers

Certain medications or foods can sometimes cause tinnitus or make its symptoms worse. Caffeine, aspirin, salt and alcohol are some of these things. Smoking is also a cause of tinnitus because it is a stimulant that makes the blood flow faster.

Tinnitus Can Start for No Reason

Even though it sounds scary and bad, most people get tinnitus for no reason at all. Even if you are healthy and don’t have any hearing loss, you could still get tinnitus. Tinnitus can happen to anyone, no matter what age, gender, background or job they have.

Tinnitus Is Not a Disease

Tinnitus isn’t an illness. Rather, it is a symptom of an underlying condition that can be caused by many things, such as the side effects of medication, hearing loss, high blood pressure, neck and head trauma, middle ear blockages and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Since tinnitus is only a sign of a bigger problem, you should see your audiologist as soon as possible to find out what’s going on and start tinnitus treatment.

Tinnitus And Noise

Many people who have tinnitus are thought to have gotten it because of hearing loss caused by noise. It usually happens after being around loud sounds for a long time. But it can also be caused by a single loud sound, such as an explosion or gunshot. People who work on construction sites or in clubs often lose their hearing because of the noise.

Tinnitus Has Several Treatment Options

Your audiologist will give you several hearing tests to see if you have tinnitus or not. These include a test of how well you can hear different frequencies and volumes, a test of how well you can understand speech and a test of how well your middle ear works.

There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are a number of ways to make the symptoms less bothersome. These include making changes to the way you live, taking medicine, using sound generators and learning how to relax. Hearing aids can also help many people lessen the noise of tinnitus. This makes the sounds around you louder so that they mix with the tinnitus and make it less noticeable. Even if your hearing is fine, you can get hearing aids that are made to help with tinnitus.

Tinnitus is something that a lot of people all over the world have. If you think you might have it, call our office at (409) 751-2590 as soon as you can to get tested and treated.