The ringing in your ear keeps getting worse. It began quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” sort of things. But you’ve noticed how loud and constant the tinnitus sounds have become after an entire day on the job at a construction site. These sounds can take many forms, like ringing, buzzing, or any number of noises. You’re considering coming in to see us, but you’re not sure: how is ringing in the ears addressed?
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will substantially establish what treatment will be most appropriate for you. But there are some common threads that can help you prepare for your own tinnitus treatment.
There are a couple of different types of tinnitus
Tinnitus is not unusual. There can be a variety of causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus noises you’re hearing). That’s why tinnitus is normally split into two categories in terms of treatment:
- Medical Tinnitus: Underlying medical problems, including ear infections, too much earwax, a growth, or other medical problems, can be the cause of tinnitus. Medical professionals will usually try to treat the root issue as their primary priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is caused by hearing damage or hearing impairment is typically referred to as “non-medical” tinnitus. As time passes, exposure to damaging noise (like the noise at your construction site) can cause constant, severe, and chronic tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus is usually 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 have.
Treating medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is related to an underlying medical condition, it’s likely that managing your initial illness or ailment will relieve the ringing in your ears. Treatments for medical tinnitus may include:
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be treated with antibiotics. For instance, antibiotics never work on viral infections. Hydrocortisone may be prescribed in these situations to treat other symptoms.
- Surgery: When your tinnitus is related to a tumor or other growth, doctors may perform surgery to remove the mass that’s causing your tinnitus, particularly if your symptoms are decreasing your quality of life.
- Antibiotics: Your doctor might prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is related to a bacterial ear infection. Once the infection clears up, it’s likely that your hearing will go back to normal.
If your tinnitus is caused by a medical problem, you’ll want to see us to get individualized treatment options.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently much more difficult to detect and treat 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 relieving symptoms is the normal course of action.
- Medications: Tinnitus is in some cases treated with experimental medication. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be decreased by combinations of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. Still, you’ll want to talk to us before making any decisions about medications.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is becoming worse as your hearing gets worse. When you have hearing impairment everything outside becomes quieter and that can make your tinnitus noises seem louder. When you utilize a hearing aid it boosts the volume of the external world making your tinnitus noises seem quieter.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can obtain training that will help you learn to ignore your tinnitus sounds. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a commonly utilized strategy designed to help you reach just that.
- Noise-masking devices: Often referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are made to provide enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the buzzing or ringing due to your tinnitus. These devices can be calibrated to produce certain sounds designed to balance out your tinnitus symptoms.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing problems 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 may not be a cure for your tinnitus. But numerous different treatments are available that could lessen the symptoms. The trick is discovering the one that works for you.
