The buzzing in your ear keeps worsening. At first, you could hardly hear it. But you’ve observed how loud and persistent the tinnitus noises have become after a full day on the job at a construction site. At times, it sounds like ringing or other sounds. You don’t know if you should come in and see us or how ringing in your ears could even be treated.
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will substantially determine what approach will be most suitable for you. But your own tinnitus therapy will share some common threads with others that can help you get prepared.
What type of tinnitus are you experiencing?
Tinnitus is extremely common. There can be numerous causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus noises you’re hearing). So when it comes to treatment, tinnitus is often split into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Underlying medical issues, including ear infections, excessive earwax, a growth, or other medical problems, can be the cause of tinnitus. Managing the root medical problem will usually be the priority of your medical professional.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is related to hearing damage or hearing loss is typically known as “non-medical” tinnitus. Over time, exposure to harmful noise (such as the noise at your construction site) can cause persistent, significant, and chronic tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus is often more difficult to manage.
The best way to treat your symptoms will be determined by the root cause of your hearing problem and the type of tinnitus you’re experiencing.
Treatments for medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is caused by an underlying medical ailment, it’s likely that treating your original illness or disorder will alleviate the ringing in your ears. Here are some treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Antibiotics: If your tinnitus is related to an ear infection (that is, a bacterial ear infection), your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Once the infection goes away, it’s likely that your hearing will go back to normal.
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be treated with antibiotics. For instance, antibiotics never work on viral infections. 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 is 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.
Treatments for non-medical tinnitus
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently a lot harder to diagnose and manage than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure especially if it’s related to hearing impairment. Treatments, instead highlight treating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In some cases, you can be trained to disregard the noises of your tinnitus. This commonly used method has helped many individuals do just that.
- Noise-masking devices: Often called “white noise machines,” these devices are created to provide enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the buzzing or ringing brought on by your tinnitus. These devices can be calibrated to produce certain sounds created to balance out your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hearing aids: If your tinnitus becomes more dominant as your hearing wanes, a hearing aid could help you manage the symptoms of both ailments. When you are dealing with hearing impairment everything externally becomes quieter and that can make your tinnitus sounds seem louder. When you utilize a hearing aid it raises the volume of the external world making your tinnitus noises seem quieter.
- Medications: There are some experimental medicines available for treating tinnitus. For example, steroids and anti-anxiety medication mixtures can sometimes help reduce tinnitus symptoms. However, you’ll want to talk to us before making any decisions about medications.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing issues you will probably need to explore several approaches as the exact cause of your tinnitus probably won’t be obvious. In most situations, tinnitus can’t be cured. But numerous different treatments are available that could decrease the symptoms. Finding the right one for you is the trick.