Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present, often described as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking in the ears. The sound may vary in pitch, volume, and duration, and it can occur in one or both ears. The most common description is a high-pitched ringing.

Is Tinnitus a Disease or a Symptom?

Tinnitus itself is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying condition, which can include:

• Hearing Loss: Tinnitus is commonly associated with even the slightest degree of hearing loss.
• Ear Injury or Infection: Infections or injuries to the ear can affect its structure or function.
• Exposure to Loud Noise: Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can damage the hair cells in the inner ear.
• Earwax Blockage: A buildup of earwax can irritate the eardrum or cause temporary hearing loss.
• Meniere’s Disease: This inner ear disorder is often accompanied by roaring tinnitus during a flare up.
• Medication Side Effects: Certain medications can cause or worsen tinnitus.
• Other Medical Conditions: such as high blood pressure, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, diabetes, anemia, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and stress.

How Common is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is very common. It affects approximately 10-15% of adults globally, which means hundreds of millions of people experience tinnitus symptoms at some point in their lives. Tinnitus is more common in older adults, with an estimated 25-30% of people over 65 experiencing it to some degree. Among individuals with hearing loss, tinnitus is even more prevalent, affecting 70-85% of this group.

Why is My Tinnitus Worse at Night?

During the day, you're more likely to be distracted by various activities and background noise, which makes your tinnitus less noticeable. However, in quiet environments - like your bedroom, it may seem louder and more bothersome. Fatigue and stress from the day can also intensify your tinnitus before bed.

How is Tinnitus Diagnosed?

Tinnitus is a symptom of something else. To figure out the cause of your Tinnitus you can come see us at Golden Ears Audiology. Your audiologist will conduct a full evaluation to determine the cause and best way to treat your condition.

How Is Tinnitus Treated?

The key to treating tinnitus is determining the underlying condition that is causing you to have tinnitus. As audiologists, most of the cases we see involve hearing loss. Since there is no cure for hearing loss, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, there are management strategies to reduce or eliminate your tinnitus.

How Can I Manage My Tinnitus?

Tinnitus management can include any of the following options:
• hearing aids
• biofeedback
• habituation therapies
• tinnitus sound generators
• electrical stimulation
• relaxation therapy
• counseling
• sound machines

Every patient has a unique experience with tinnitus which means their treatment will be unique to them.

How Will A Hearing Aid Help My Tinnitus?

If you have a hearing loss, there is a good chance that a hearing aid will both relieve your tinnitus and help you hear. It is believed that tinnitus is your brain’s way of compensating for the sounds it is not hearing. By wearing hearing aids, you are providing the brain with the sounds it is missing, and the brain no longer needs to make its own. Additionally, hearing aids have maskers that can be enabled to further drown out the tinnitus.