The buzzing in your ear keeps worsening. It began quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” sort of things. But you’ve noticed how loud and persistent the tinnitus sounds have become after an entire day on the job at a construction site. Sometimes, it sounds like ringing or other noises. You’re thinking about coming in to see us, but you’re not sure: how is buzzing in the ears addressed?
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will substantially determine what approach will be most appropriate for you. But your own tinnitus therapy will share some common threads with others that can help you get ready.
There are a couple of different kinds of tinnitus
Tinnitus is very common. The ringing or buzzing (or any number of sounds) in your ear can be caused by a variety of underlying problems. So in terms of treatment, tinnitus is usually divided into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an inherent medical issue, such as an ear infection, too much earwax, or a growth, among other ailments. Medical professionals will usually try to treat the underlying issue as their main priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is triggered by hearing damage or hearing loss is typically referred to as “non-medical” tinnitus. Significant, persistent, and chronic tinnitus can be the outcome of hearing damage related to long term exposure to loud noise (like at your construction site). Non-medical tinnitus is usually more difficult to treat.
The best way to manage your symptoms will be determined by the root cause of your hearing problem and the kind of tinnitus you’re experiencing.
Treating medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is caused by an underlying medical condition, it’s likely that managing your original illness or ailment will alleviate the ringing in your ears. Here are some treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Surgery: When your tinnitus is related to a tumor or other growth, doctors could perform surgery to remove the mass that is causing your tinnitus, particularly if your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life.
- Hydrocortisone: Certain types of infections will not respond to antibiotics. For example, antibiotics never work on viral infections. In these situations, your doctor may prescribe hydrocortisone to help you control other symptoms.
- Antibiotics: If your tinnitus is related to an ear infection (that is, a bacterial ear infection), your doctor might prescribe antibiotics. Your tinnitus symptoms will most likely go-away when the infection clears up.
You’ll want to schedule an appointment to get a consultation so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, especially if you’re coping with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently a lot harder to identify and treat than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure especially if it’s caused by hearing impairment. Instead, treatment to improve quality of life by alleviating symptoms is the normal strategy.
- Medications: Tinnitus is in some cases treated with experimental medication. For instance, steroids and anti-anxiety medication mixtures can sometimes help reduce tinnitus symptoms. But before you make any decisions, you’ll want to speak with us.
- Noise-masking devices: Often referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are made to supply enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the buzzing or ringing caused by your tinnitus. These devices can be attenuated to produce specific sounds created to balance out your tinnitus symptoms.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In some instances, you can be trained to ignore the sounds of your tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a commonly used strategy designed to help you reach just that.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is getting worse as your hearing gets worse. 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 outside world making your tinnitus sounds seem quieter.
Find what works
In order to effectively treat your hearing problems you will probably need to try out several strategies as the exact cause of your tinnitus probably won’t be clear. Depending on the source of your buzzing or ringing, there might not be a cure for your tinnitus. But numerous different treatment options are available that could reduce the symptoms. Finding the best one for you is the trick.