You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not getting any better, if anything it’s getting worse. It started off quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” sort of situations. But after spending all day at the construction site (for work), you’ve noticed just how noisy (and how persistent) that buzzing has become. These sounds can take many forms, such as ringing, buzzing, or any number of sounds. You don’t know if you should come in and see us or how ringing in your ears could even be managed.
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will significantly determine what approach will be most appropriate for you. But your own tinnitus treatment will share some common threads with others that can help you get prepared.
There are a couple of different types of tinnitus
Tinnitus is not uncommon. There can be numerous causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus noises you’re hearing). So in terms of treatment, tinnitus is usually split into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an inherent medical issue, such as an ear infection, excessive earwax, or a growth, among other ailments. Medical professionals will typically attempt to treat the underlying problem as their main priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is related to hearing damage or hearing impairment is typically known as “non-medical” tinnitus. Severe, persistent, and chronic tinnitus can be the outcome of hearing damage related to long term exposure to loud noise (like at your construction site). It’s normally very difficult to treat non-medical tinnitus.
The best way to manage your symptoms will be determined by the root cause of your hearing problem and the kind of tinnitus you have.
Treatments for medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is a result of an underlying medical ailment, it’s likely that treating your initial illness or ailment will alleviate the ringing in your ears. Treatments for medical tinnitus may include:
- Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is caused by a bacterial ear infection. Your tinnitus symptoms will most likely go-away when the infection clears up.
- Hydrocortisone: Some types of infections will not respond to antibiotics. Viral infections, for instance, never respond to antibiotic treatments. In these situations, your doctor may prescribe hydrocortisone to help you control other symptoms.
- Surgery: Doctors may decide to perform surgery to get rid of any tumor or growth that could be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
You’ll want to schedule an appointment to get a consultation so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, especially if you’re dealing with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are often a lot more difficult to identify and manage than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. There’s normally no cure for non-medical tinnitus (especially in cases where the tinnitus is a result of hearing damage). Treatments, instead focus on alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can get training that will help you learn to disregard your tinnitus sounds. This frequently used method has helped many individuals do just that.
- Medications: Tinnitus is sometimes managed with experimental medication. For example, steroids and anti-anxiety medication combinations can sometimes help minimize tinnitus symptoms. However, you’ll want to speak with us before making any decisions about medications.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is becoming worse as your hearing gets worse. When you are dealing with hearing impairment everything outside becomes quieter and that can make your tinnitus sounds seem louder. A hearing aid can help hide the sound of your tinnitus by raising the volume of everything else.
- Noise-masking devices: Sometimes referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are created to supply enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the ringing or buzzing caused by your tinnitus. These devices can be attenuated to produce specific sounds designed to offset your tinnitus symptoms.
Find what works
In order to effectively treat your hearing issues you will probably need to explore several approaches as the exact cause of your tinnitus probably won’t be obvious. In most situations, tinnitus can’t be cured. But numerous different treatment options are available that could lessen the symptoms. Finding the right one for you is the trick.
