You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not getting any better, if anything it’s getting worse. It started off quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” sort of things. But you’ve observed how loud and persistent the tinnitus sounds have become after a full day on the job at a construction site. These noises can take many forms, such as ringing, buzzing, or any number of sounds. You don’t know if you should come in and see us or how ringing in your ears could even be addressed.
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will greatly establish what treatment will be right for you. But your own tinnitus treatment will share some common threads with others that can help you get ready.
What kind of tinnitus are you experiencing?
Tinnitus is not unusual. There can be numerous causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus sounds you’re hearing). That’s why tinnitus is normally divided into two categories when it comes to treatment:
- Medical Tinnitus: Underlying medical problems, including ear infections, excessive earwax, a growth, or other medical issues, can be the cause of tinnitus. Managing the root medical problem will normally be the priority of your medical professional.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is related to hearing damage or hearing impairment is typically known as “non-medical” tinnitus. As time passes, exposure to damaging noise (such as the noise at your construction site) can cause persistent, significant, and chronic tinnitus. It’s usually very difficult to manage non-medical tinnitus.
The best way to treat your symptoms will be determined by the underlying cause of your hearing problem and the type of tinnitus you have.
Treating medical tinnitus
Your medical tinnitus symptoms will normally improve when the underlying medical issue is treated. Treatments for medical tinnitus could include:
- Surgery: Doctors might decide to do surgery to get rid of any tumor or growth that might be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
- Antibiotics: If your tinnitus is related to an ear infection (that is, a bacterial ear infection), your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Your tinnitus symptoms will most likely go-away when the infection clears up.
- Hydrocortisone: Certain kinds of infections will not react to antibiotics. Viral infections, for instance, never respond to antibiotic treatments. In these situations, your doctor might prescribe hydrocortisone to help you control other symptoms.
You’ll want to make an appointment to get a consultation so we personalize a tinnitus treatment plan, particularly if you’re coping with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are often much harder to detect and treat than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure particularly if it’s related to hearing loss. Treatments, instead focus on alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is getting worse as your hearing worsens. 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.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In some instances, you can be trained to ignore the sounds of your tinnitus. This commonly used strategy has helped lots of people do just that.
- Noise-masking devices: Sometimes referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are created to supply enough sound to decrease your ability to hear the ringing or buzzing caused by your tinnitus. Specific sounds can be programmed into these devices depending on what sounds your tinnitus is generating.
- Medications: There are some experimental medications available for treating tinnitus. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be decreased by mixtures of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. But before you make any decisions, you’ll want to speak with us.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing issues you will probably need to try out several approaches as the exact cause of your tinnitus most likely won’t be obvious. Depending on the source of your ringing or buzzing, there might not be a cure for your tinnitus. But numerous different treatments are available that could decrease the symptoms. The trick is identifying the one that works for you.
