Tinnitus Symptoms Are Manageable – We Can Help
If you’re experiencing tinnitus, you might feel like it’s all in your head. While that’s technically correct—in most forms of tinnitus, the sound is only audible to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with it on your own. Our team at Hearing Wellness Center can help you manage your tinnitus to reduce its impact on your daily life.
TINNITUS—How Do We Say It?
(TIN-i-tus or tin-NIGHT-us)
Both are considered the correct pronunciation. People on the West Coast tend to say tin-NIGHT-us and on the East Coast they say TIN-i-tus. Here in the Midwest we say it either way just like tomato [to-may-to/to-mah-to].
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a ringing noise in one or both ears that might be constant or come and go. It can last anywhere from a few days to years. Ringing is one of the most common sounds, but tinnitus can also manifest as buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing or humming. In extreme cases, it might interfere with your ability to concentrate or lead to anxiety.
What Causes Tinnitus?
The following can potentially lead to tinnitus:
- Consistent exposure to loud noise
- Issues in the middle ear, like infections or vascular tumors
- Ear infection or ear canal blockage
- Medication that damages the middle ear’s nerves, such as ototoxic drugs
- Head or neck injuries
Types of Tinnitus
The most common form of tinnitus is subjective tinnitus or tinnitus that only you can hear. This type of tinnitus often sounds like ringing, buzzing or clicking.
Less frequently diagnosed is pulsatile or objective tinnitus, which sounds like a whooshing or pulsing sound. A practitioner may be able to hear pulsatile tinnitus during an examination.
What Happens During a Tinnitus Evaluation?
Tinnitus is typically diagnosed based on a patient’s symptoms. Our office will provide a referral to connect you with these services. To determine an underlying cause, our provider will ask what noises are present. Does it sound like clicking, pulsing, low-pitched ringing or high-pitched ringing?
Other common tests include:
- Hearing exam: In a sound-proof room, you will wear headphones connected to a device that sends sounds to one ear at a time. You’ll be asked to press a button or raise your hand whenever you hear a sound.
- Movement: If the tinnitus changes due to certain movements, it might identify another disorder in need of treatment.
- Imaging tests: These might include CT or MRI scans.
- Lab tests: These might include drawing blood.
The provider may also have you take questionnaires to determine the impact of tinnitus on your daily life. These include:
- Tinnitus functional index
- Tinnitus handicap inventory
- Tinnitus and hearing survey
How Is Tinnitus Treated?
At the Tinnitus Treatment Center we review your medical history, medications, noise exposure history, hearing test results, dietary and sleep habits as well as physical and emotional state at the onset of the tinnitus to help determine what may have caused the tinnitus. We also work with your primary physician and specialists to rule out medical conditions that cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is a symptom of another underlying condition so it is important to uncover the cause and address the condition whenever possible.
The Tinnitus Treatment Center uses Integrative Tinnitus Therapy (ITT) which develops an individualized treatment plan for each patient based on the results of a thorough evaluation. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and Polyvagal theory are the foundations for our methods. ITT is a holistic approach based on your individual needs that include the following types of assessments and treatments:
- Mind-Body Techniques
- Address underlying hearing loss & other medical conditions
- Active Sound Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions
- Self-care Coaching
You Aren’t In this Alone
Tinnitus might seem daunting, but you don’t have to face it yourself. At Hearing Wellness Center, we can help you manage your symptoms. Whether it’s providing you with more information about tinnitus or helping you find acoustic therapy, we’re here to help.
Call Hearing Wellness Center for more information or to schedule an appointment.
