Tinnitus Treatment Options

Do you suffer from ringing in your ears?

The Hearing Doctors is here to help. At our Wheaton Office, Dr. Billing assesses and treats symptoms of ringing in the ears using state-of-the art technology and techniques. Proactive treatment of tinnitus can help quality of life, improve hearing, and may prevent hearing loss.

Call our office at 630.752.9505 to schedule a tinnitus screening today.

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WHAT IS TINNITUS?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears.” For some people, tinnitus is a steady, unchanging noise. For others, it is a sound that comes and goes, or a tone that changes pitch through the day. Tinnitus can be continuous or intermittent.

Ringing is just one of the perceived sounds with tinnitus. Other sounds can be hissing, whining, buzzing, humming, whistling, ticking, clicking, or roaring as well as others.

Most people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss and may be unable to hear external sounds within the same range of frequencies as their perceived sounds.

HOW IS TINNITUS TREATED?

There are many options for treating tinnitus such as special hearing aids, sound therapy, biofeedback to name a few. The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition. That’s why The Hearing Doctors performs a thorough screening prior to recommending a treatment plan.

For more information on tinnitus, The Hearing Doctors invites you to visit the American Tinnitus Association website.

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Treating the cause

Tinnitus can be caused by many things, and is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. The treatment for your particular tinnitus will depend on the condition that is causing it, the severity, any accompanying issues such as hearing loss, and the impact the tinnitus has on daily activities. Common causes of tinnitus include:

  • Hearing loss
  • Exposure to loud noises
  • Earwax buildup or blockages
  • Abnormal bone growth in the ear
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Benign tumor of the cranial nerve
  • Medication
  • Aging
  • Vascular disorders
  • Stress or depression

In order to find out the root cause of your tinnitus, your hearing specialist will conduct a complete medical history, as well as a complete examination.

What treatments are available?

Depending on the cause of your tinnitus and other factors, several treatments are available to relieve your tinnitus symptoms, from hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features to sound therapy.

Sound therapy

A common treatment is acoustic therapy or sound therapy. Sound therapy makes use of sounds to help the brain re-focus and diminish the emotional impact of the tinnitus.

Hearing aids

Hearing aids are a popular treatment option for tinnitus even if hearing loss isn’t present. Hearing aids can be equipped with a tinnitus-masking feature to help individuals block out the noise and provide much-needed relief. These can be used in collaboration of hearing loss treatment as well.

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)

One treatment that incorporates sound therapy is called tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), also known as habituation therapy. This therapy attempts to retrain your brain into perceiving the tinnitus in a different way. Typical behavioral therapy may also be included to help the individual cope with any emotional difficulties they’re experiencing, including depression, stress or anger. After treatment has taken place, further maintenance is important. This may include management of associated health problems or ongoing therapies to support health and manage tinnitus.