Tinnitus is a prevalent symptom among almost 50 million Americans, characterized by ringing, whistling, or other sounds in the ears. People with tinnitus can hear these sounds so softly that they go unnoticed most of the time or so loudly that they block out their environment’s sounds.
Tinnitus can be a daily distraction and can disrupt your sleep and daily routine. It can also be an indication of other medical conditions, such as age-related hearing loss. Your healthcare provider may treat the underlying causes or recommend management tactics to lessen the effect of your tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus?
While there isn’t a specific cause for tinnitus, there are several factors that can increase your risk of developing this condition.
You can develop tinnitus through exposure to extreme noise, either through a single incident or over time due to lifestyle choices or environment. Age-related hearing loss due to high blood pressure or family history can also cause tinnitus.
Getting foreign objects stuck inside your ears or excessive earwax can rupture your eardrums and cause tinnitus. Tinnitus can also occur due to congestion caused by allergies. There are also ototoxic medications that can damage your inner ear, which may lead to the development of tinnitus.
Underlying health conditions can also be the reason behind tinnitus. Some of these include:
- Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder that affects your balance and hearing.
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which causes inflammation in your jaw and surrounding muscles.
Symptoms of Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a symptom often characterized as a ringing in the ears, but it can also exhibit other phantom sounds, such as:
- Buzzing
- Clicking
- Hissing
- Humming in the ears
- Hearing a loud roaring sound
Many people experience subjective tinnitus or tinnitus that they can only hear in either one or both of their ears. This type of tinnitus varies in volume and pitch. It can also come and go or be present at all times.
In rare cases, people can experience pulsatile tinnitus, wherein they hear a rhythmic whooshing or pulsing sound in time with their heartbeat. This type of tinnitus may happen when you have anemia or high blood pressure.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Tinnitus
Getting a proper diagnosis is the first step to treatment. Treatment for tinnitus generally varies based on your diagnosis and its root cause.
Your healthcare provider will start by examining your medical history and performing a physical exam to check for any obvious problems that are causing your tinnitus. They may ask you to perform a hearing test to check your ability to hear a range of sounds and tones. Imaging tests such as an MRI can also reveal any structural problems causing tinnitus.
Afterward, your healthcare provider will direct you to a treatment plan that targets the underlying condition to alleviate your tinnitus.
For cases that aren’t caused by underlying medical conditions, your healthcare provider may suggest various methods to manage your tinnitus. Examples of how to manage tinnitus include:
- Hearing aids – For people with hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing aids can provide relief by making tinnitus less noticeable.
- Sound therapy – Sound generators and environmental enrichment devices are both methods that can help mask tinnitus.
- Stress reduction and relaxation techniques – Stress and frustration can impact your tinnitus. Finding ways to alleviate stress may help lessen your tinnitus.
- Counseling options – Wellness therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), can be helpful methods to help ease and live with the effects of tinnitus in your life.
It is recommended to seek medical attention if you are experiencing dizziness or vertigo due to tinnitus. You can also experience anxiety or depression as a result of the constant interruption in your daily life due to tinnitus.
Tinnitus Treatment Near Me in Georgetown, Texas
Early medical attention can get you help for tinnitus as soon as you need it. For some people, tinnitus is minimal and less noticeable, but for others, it can make sleeping and doing their daily tasks difficult. That’s why it’s best to seek treatment before symptoms increase.
Here at Georgetown ENT, we provide a variety of quality medical services for conditions of the ear, nose, and throat – including tinnitus. Located in central Texas, our state-of-the-art facilities diagnose and help manage tinnitus for patients of all ages and from all over Williamson County. Tinnitus is usually a symptom of another condition, and our medical team at Georgetown ENT can help you get to the root of your tinnitus and guide you through available management options.
If you or a loved one is experiencing tinnitus, Georgetown ENT is here to help. You can easily schedule your evaluation with us today by calling our friendly offices at (512) 869-0604. We have various clinic locations for you to choose from that are best suited to your convenience. You can also schedule an appointment through our convenient online appointment request form.
We look forward to being your medical partner for ear, nose, and throat care!
