You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not improving, if anything it’s getting worse. It began quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” sort of things. But you’ve observed how loud and persistent the tinnitus sounds have become after a full day on the job at a construction site. At times, it sounds like ringing or other noises. You don’t know if you should contact us or how ringing in your ears could even be treated.
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will significantly establish what approach will be right for you. But your own tinnitus therapy will share some common threads with others that can help you get prepared.
What type of tinnitus are you experiencing?
Tinnitus is incredibly common. There can be numerous causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus sounds you’re hearing). So when it comes to treatment, tinnitus is usually divided into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an underlying medical problem, such as an ear infection, excessive earwax, or a growth, among other conditions. Dealing with the underlying medical problem will normally be the priority of your medical professional.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is usually saved for tinnitus caused by hearing damage or hearing impairment. As time passes, exposure to damaging noise (such as the noise at your construction site) can cause constant, severe, and chronic tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus is often more challenging to treat.
The best way to manage your symptoms will be determined by the underlying cause of your hearing issue and the type of tinnitus you’re experiencing.
Treating medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is a result of a root medical ailment, it’s likely that managing your initial illness or disorder will relieve the ringing in your ears. Treatments for medical tinnitus may include:
- Surgery: When your tinnitus is a result of a tumor or other growth, doctors could perform surgery to remove the mass that’s causing your tinnitus, particularly if your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life.
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be addressed with antibiotics. For instance, antibiotics never work on viral infections. Hydrocortisone might be prescribed in these cases to treat other symptoms.
- Antibiotics: Your doctor might prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is related to a bacterial ear infection. Your tinnitus symptoms will probably disappear when the infection clears.
You’ll want to schedule an appointment to get a consultation so we personalize a tinnitus treatment plan, particularly if you’re coping with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatment options
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently a lot harder to diagnose and manage than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. There is normally no cure for non-medical tinnitus (particularly in cases where the tinnitus is a result of hearing damage). Treatments, instead highlight alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Noise-masking devices: These devices hide your tinnitus sounds by producing enough white noise to allow the buzzing or ringing to fade into the background. These devices can be calibrated to generate specific sounds designed to balance out your tinnitus symptoms.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In some instances, you can be trained to disregard the noises of your tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a widely utilized method designed to help you reach just that.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is getting worse as your hearing worsens. The tinnitus symptoms probably seem louder because everything else gets quieter (due to hearing loss). When you utilize a hearing aid it boosts the volume of the external world making your tinnitus noises seem quieter.
- Medications: There are some experimental medications available for treating tinnitus. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be reduced by mixtures of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. But before you make any decisions, you’ll want to talk to us.
Find what works
In order to effectively treat your hearing problems you will probably need to try out several approaches as the exact cause of your tinnitus probably won’t be clear. Depending on the source of your buzzing or ringing, there may not be a cure for your tinnitus. But numerous different treatments are available that could lessen the symptoms. The trick is discovering the one that works for you.