Ringing in the Ears: Facts About Tinnitus

On this page:

• What causes tinnitus?
• What should I do if I have tinnitus?
• How will hearing experts treat my tinnitus?
• What can I do to help myself?
• Where can I find more information?

Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking, or hissing sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot? If you answer yes to these questions, you may have tinnitus (tin-NY-tus).

Tinnitus is a symptom associated with many forms of hearing loss. It can also be a symptom of other health problems. Roughly 25 million Americans experience tinnitus. Some cases are so severe that it interferes with every day activities. People with severe cases of tinnitus may find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep.

What causes tinnitus?

• Hearing loss. Research shows that people with hearing loss also have tinnitus. Sometimes the hearing loss may be very slight, and a person with tinnitus may not realize he/she also has hearing loss.
• Loud noise. Too much exposure to loud noises can cause noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Exposure to loud sounds is the cause most strongly linked to the onset of tinnitus.
• Medicine. Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and you take medicine, we can review your medications with the most current research regarding tinnitus and drug interactions.
• Other health problems. Allergies, tumors, and problems in the heart and blood vessels, jaws, and neck can cause tinnitus. Some of the testing we do in our office can determine if your tinnitus may be coming from these sources.

What should I do if I have tinnitus?

The most important thing you can do is see your Doctor Audiology for an evaluation. Your audiologist can try to determine what is causing your tinnitus. He or she can check to see if it is potentially related to blood pressure, kidney function, diet, or allergies. Your audiologist can also determine whether your tinnitus is possibly related to any medicine you are taking, or exposure to loud sounds.

How will hearing experts treat my tinnitus?

Tinnitus treatment is constantly evolving. The most current research developed at the VA Hospitals by Dr. James Henry involves a method called "Progressive Tinnitus Management" or PTM developed through research with veterans of Iraq and Afganistan who have debilitating tinnitus. PTM customizes treatment for each patient's individual needs. Not every treatment works for everyone. Using PTM methods, your audiologist can work with you to find the best plan that works for you.

Treatments can include:

• Hearing aids. Many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. Research shows that even when people have very mild hearing loss that they were previously unaware of, using hearing aid technology can reduce and eliminate tinnitus while the device is being worn.
• Maskers and Sound Conditioners. Maskers and sound conditioners produce sounds to make tinnitus less noticeable. Maskers and sound conditioners do not make tinnitus go away, but they can reduce the volume of the ringing or roaring. For some people, maskers and sound conditioners hide their tinnitus so well that they can barely hear it. These devices can be worn in the ear, or placed inside a pillow, or on a bedside table.
• Suppressors: We are pleased to now offer the Serenade device by SoundCure . This device helps to suppress your tinnitus via modulated tones which are close in frequency and volume to your tinnitus. Where maskers often produce a noticeably louder sound than your tinnitus, the Serenade device produces very soft, modulated tones which are customized and programmed based on your individual tinnitus, and which can help reduce the intensity of your tinnitus. The device looks similar to an MP3 player. Click on the blue Serenade image above for more information.

Research shows that people sleep better when they use maskers. Consumer Reports quotes David N. Neubauer, M.D., associate director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center as saying, "I'm sort of an evangelist about these machines." Listening to a constant white noise or pleasant sounds using bedside maskers can help with tinnitus and can help you sleep.

• Medicine or drug therapy. No research has supported the use of any single drug or medicine to treat tinnitus for all patients. Tinnitus has different sources for different people. Some doctors may prescribe drugs to treat tinnitus. These drugs may or may not help you individually.
• Progressive Tinnitus Management. This treatment customizes a tinnitus treatment plan for you using counseling, hearing technology, and/or maskers. This treatment is the most current and cost effective treatment for tinnitus available today. This is the treatment approach we use at the Lafayette Hearing Center.
• Counseling. People with tinnitus may become depressed. Talking with a counselor, mental heath expert, or people in tinnitus support groups may be helpful.
• Relaxing. Learning how to relax is critical to treating your tinnitus if the noise in your ears frustrates you or causes you anxiety or stress. Stress makes tinnitus worse. Research shows that highly anxious and stressed people are more likely to have severe tinnitus. An important part of improving your tinnitus will be lowering your levels of stress and anxiety.

What can I do to help myself?

Avoid being in total quiet where your tinnitus will be most obvious. Many people find listening to music very helpful. Think about things that will help you cope. Listening to music you enjoy can help you forget about your tinnitus for a while. It can also help mask the sound. Other people like to listen to recorded nature sounds, like ocean waves, the wind, or even crickets. Lowering your awareness of your tinnitus is key to lowering your biological reaction to your tinnitus.

Avoid anything that can make your tinnitus worse. This includes smoking, caffeine intake, alcoholic beverages, and loud noise. If you are a construction worker, an airport worker, or a hunter, or if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at home or at work, wear ear plugs or special earmuffs to protect your hearing and keep your tinnitus from getting worse.

If it is hard for you to hear over your tinnitus, ask your friends and family to face you when they talk so you can see their faces. Seeing their expressions may help you understand them better. Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. Also, tell them they do not have to talk slowly, just more clearly.

What is the next step?

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Susan Lopez to discuss your tinnitus by calling 765-448-6226.

Where can I find more information?

• Information on Tinnitus from the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders
• Summary of information regarding Tinnitus and the influences of diet and exercise from the American Tinnitus Association.