• (888) 208-5148
CFBH-logo-retinaCFBH-logo-retinaCFBH-logo-retinaCFBH-logo-retina
  • Get Informed
    • Press Releases
    • FAQs
    • Hearing News
    • Lifestyle and Hearing
    • Media Relations
    • Participating Practices
    • Research
  • Get Involved
    • Give Back Program
    • Hearing Aid Recipients
    • Events
    • Share Your Story
    • How Can I Help?
    • Contact Us
  • Find an office
  • Request an Appointment

What is tinnitus?

April 3, 2018
Categories
Tags

Tinnitus can be commonly described as “ringing in the ears” as it refers to a sensation of sound in or both the ears, or in the head when no external sound is present. Other descriptions of the sensation include a roaring, whistling, chirping or hissing. The perceived loudness of tinnitus varies from person to person, ranging from subtle to very intense.
Tinnitus affects males and females equally, as well as those with normal hearing.

Causes:

It is unknown what the exact physiological causes are. However, research has identified a number of sources associated with tinnitus. The most common contributor has been cited as exposure to loud noise, which may only lead to temporary effects of tinnitus. Long-term exposure to noise most often leads to permanent sensation of tinnitus. In fact, over 90% of tinnitus sufferers also have some level of noise-induced hearing loss.
Some of the significant causes of tinnitus can be as follows:

  • A certain amount of wax build-up in the ear canal leading to sensation or increase the perceived intensity of tinnitus.
  • Certain medications that are oto-toxic, which means that they can produce damage to hearing organ itself. For example, Aspirin is a medication that can cause temporary tinnitus, when taken in large doses.
  • Ear and sinus infections can also be accompanied by tinnitus. However, it normally disappears once the infection has cleared.
  • Jaw misalignment and other facial abnormalities can induce tinnitus as well as any trauma to the head and neck region.

Cure:

There is no cure for tinnitus, nor is there one approved medication that has been successful in permanently eliminating the presence of tinnitus for those who suffer from the condition. However, there are several factors that can intensify the perceived loudness if tinnitus.

  • Alcohol
  • Aspirin
  • Caffeine
  • Cigarettes
  • Exposure to loud noise
  • Foods with high salt or sugar content
  • Stress and fatigue

If you suffer from tinnitus, try reducing or eliminating one or more of the above mentioned factors to determine whether or not you perceive any change in the level or tone of your tinnitus.

Treatment:

Although there is no “cure” for tinnitus, several techniques have been developed to help individuals cope with the condition.
Additionally, there are two major non-medical treatments currently available for tinnitus sufferers: Masking and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.
These treatments are designed to provide immediate relief from the effects of tinnitus and can be combined with a hearing aid for those who also have hearing loss. The therapy also aims to give you the skills to successfully manage your tinnitus permanently.
Also, a notable factor can be use of hearing aids. Tinnitus becomes much less noticeable for hearing aid wearers.

It is always advisable to visit a professional and reputed hearing clinic to gain more information and check for any signs of hearing loss.

Share
© The National Campaign for Better Hearing. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

The purpose of this hearing assessment and/or demonstration is for hearing wellness and to determine if the consumer may benefit from using hearing aids, which may include selling and fitting hearing aids. Products demonstrated may differ from products sold. Assessment conclusion is not a medical diagnosis and further testing may be required to diagnose hearing loss. The use of any hearing aid may not fully restore normal hearing and does not prevent future hearing loss. Hearing instruments may not meet the needs of all hearing-impaired individuals. One offer per consumer and offer cannot be combined with any of our promotional offers, coupons or discounts. Offer not available to any consumer who has private or federal health insurance coverage. Other terms may apply, see office for details.

Please note: Complimentary hearing assessment is not valid at the following locations: HearingLife, 6262 E Broadway Rd, Suite 103, Mesa, AZ 85206 | Hearing, Balance and Speech Center, A HearingLife Company, 11 Harrison Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 | Hearing, Balance and Speech Center, A HearingLife Company, 171 Grandview Ave., Suite 203, Waterbury, CT 06708 | HearingLIfe, Audubon Medical Campus (Located in Colorado ENT & Allergy), 3030 North Circle Drive, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | HearingLife, Saint Francis Medical Campus, NorthCare Pavilion (Located in Colorado ENT & Allergy), 6071 East Woodmen Road, Suite 325, Colorado Springs, CO 80923 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 99 Wolf Creek Blvd, Suite 3, Dover, DE 19901 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 104 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite 202, Middletown, DE 19709 | Hearing Services of Delaware, Inc., A HearingLife Company, 28 Peoples Plaza, Newark, DE 19702 | HearingLife 2051 Art Museum Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207 | HearingLife, 3754 US Highway 90, Suite No. 350, Pace, FL 32571 | HearingLife Sacred Heart Hospital Campus, 5147 North 9th Avenue, Suite 315, Pensacola, FL 32504 | Destin Hearing Associates, a HearingLife Company, 141 Mack Bayou Loop, Suite 202, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 1441 Parkway Drive, Blackfoot, ID 83221 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 3345 Merlin Drive, Suite 200, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 256 N. 2nd E., Suite 3, Rexburg, ID 83440 | HearingLife 100 East Northwood Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 775 Route 70 East, Suite F-120B, Marlton, NJ 08053 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 1000 White Horse Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043 | Anderson Audiology 3120 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146 | Anderson Audiology 9430 West Lake Mead Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 8913 | Anderson Audiology, 2642 West Horizon Ridge Parkway, Henderson, NV 8905 | Anderson Audiology, 193 North Pecos Road, Henderson, NV 89074 | Anderson Audiology 6475 North Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89131 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 14 Columbia Circle Drive, Suite 202, Albany, NY, 12203 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 81 Miller Road, Suite 700, East Greenbush, NY, 12033 | HearingLife, formerly Family Audiology, 800 Hooper Road, Suite 370, Endicott, NY 13760 | HearingLife, formerly Family Hearing Center, 18 Westage Business Center Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524 | Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center- Hear Clear, 414 Maple Avenue, Suite 800, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 960 W. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH 43402 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 3450 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43606 | Kenwood Hearing Centers, A HearingLife Company, 725 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon, OH 43567 | Audiology Professionals, A HearingLife Company, 1600 Valley River Dr, Suite 395, Eugene, OR 97401 | REM Audiology Associates, A HearingLife Company, 8100 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 103, Philadelphia, PA 19152 | Arlington Hearing Center, A HearingLife Company, 2500 Wilson Blvd #105, Arlington, VA 22201 | Regional Hearing & Balance, A HearingLife Company, 685 S. Washington St., Afton, WY 83110