You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not improving, if anything it’s getting worse. At first, you could barely hear it. But after being at the construction site all day (for work), you’ve noticed just how loud (and how persistent) that buzzing has become. These noises can take many forms, like ringing, buzzing, or any number of noises. You don’t know if you should come in and see us or how ringing in your ears could even be managed.
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will greatly determine what treatment will be most suitable for you. But there are some common threads that can help you get ready for your own tinnitus therapy.
What kind of tinnitus are you experiencing?
Tinnitus is not uncommon. The ringing or buzzing (or any number of sounds) in your ear can be caused by a variety of underlying problems. That’s why tinnitus is normally divided into two categories when it comes to treatment:
- Medical Tinnitus: Underlying medical issues, including ear infections, excessive earwax, a growth, or other medical issues, can be the cause of tinnitus. Medical providers will usually try to treat the root issue as their first priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is usually saved for tinnitus caused by damaged hearing or hearing loss. Significant, persistent, and chronic tinnitus can be the outcome of hearing damage caused by long term exposure to loud noise (like at your construction site). Non-medical tinnitus is often more challenging to manage.
The best way to treat your symptoms will be determined by the underlying cause of your hearing problem and the kind of tinnitus you have.
Treatments for medical tinnitus
Your medical tinnitus symptoms will typically improve when the root medical issue is addressed. Here are a few treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is caused by a bacterial ear infection. Your tinnitus symptoms will probably disappear when the infection clears.
- Hydrocortisone: Certain types of infections will not respond to antibiotics. Viral infections, for instance, never respond to antibiotic solutions. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe hydrocortisone to help you manage other symptoms.
- Surgery: When your tinnitus is triggered by a tumor or other growth, doctors may perform surgery to remove the mass that’s causing your tinnitus, especially if your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life.
You’ll want to schedule an appointment to get a consultation so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, particularly if you’re coping with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatment options
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently much more difficult to diagnose and manage than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. There’s normally no cure for non-medical tinnitus (especially in cases where the tinnitus is a result of hearing damage). Instead, treatment to improve quality of life by alleviating symptoms is the normal course of action.
- Medications: Tinnitus is sometimes treated with experimental medication. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be reduced by mixtures of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. However, you’ll want to talk to us before making any decisions about medications.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can get training that will help you learn to ignore your tinnitus sounds. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a commonly utilized strategy created to help you achieve just that.
- Noise-masking devices: Sometimes referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are made to provide enough sound to decrease your ability to hear the ringing or buzzing due to your tinnitus. These devices can be attenuated to generate certain sounds created to balance out your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hearing aids: If your tinnitus turns out to be more dominant as your hearing wanes, a hearing aid may help you control the symptoms of both conditions. The tinnitus symptoms probably seem louder because everything else becomes quieter (because of hearing impairment). A hearing aid can help mask the sound of your tinnitus by amping up the volume of everything else.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing problems you will most likely need to try out several strategies as the exact cause of your tinnitus most likely won’t be obvious. In most situations, tinnitus can’t be cured. But there are many treatments available. The trick is identifying the one that works for you.