You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not getting any better, if anything it’s getting worse. At first, you could barely hear it. But you’ve observed how loud and constant the tinnitus sounds have become after an entire day on the job at a construction site. These noises can take many forms, like 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 managed.
The source of your tinnitus symptoms will significantly establish what approach will be right for you. But your own tinnitus therapy will share some common threads with others that can help you get prepared.
There are a couple of different kinds of tinnitus
Tinnitus is not uncommon. The ringing or buzzing (or any number of sounds) in your ear can be caused by a number of underlying problems. So in terms of treatment, tinnitus is often split into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an inherent medical problem, like an ear infection, excessive earwax, or a growth, among other ailments. Managing the underlying medical problem will usually be the priority of your medical professional.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is usually saved for tinnitus caused by hearing damage or hearing loss. Over time, exposure to damaging noise (like the noise at your construction site) can cause constant, severe, and chronic tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus is usually more challenging to manage.
The kind of tinnitus you have, and the underlying cause of the hearing condition, will establish the best ways to manage those symptoms.
Treating medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is caused by a root medical condition, it’s likely that treating your initial illness or ailment will relieve the ringing in your ears. Treatments for medical tinnitus could include:
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be treated with antibiotics. For instance, antibiotics never work on viral infections. Hydrocortisone might be prescribed in these cases to treat other symptoms.
- Surgery: Doctors may decide to do surgery to get rid of any tumor or growth that could be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
- Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is caused by a bacterial ear infection. Your tinnitus symptoms will probably go-away when the infection clears up.
You’ll want to make an appointment to get a consultation so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, especially if you’re coping with medical tinnitus.
Managing non-medical tinnitus
Usually, medical tinnitus is a lot easier to diagnose and manage than non-medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure particularly if it’s caused by hearing loss. Treatments, instead highlight relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Medications: There are some experimental medicines available for treating tinnitus. For instance, steroids and anti-anxiety medication combinations can sometimes help minimize tinnitus symptoms. But before you make any decisions, you’ll want to speak with us.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is getting worse as your hearing worsens. The tinnitus symptoms will likely seem louder because everything else gets quieter (because of hearing loss). When you use a hearing aid it raises the volume of the outside world making your tinnitus sounds seem quieter.
- 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 designed to help you achieve just that.
- 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 ringing or buzzing caused by your tinnitus. Specific sounds can be tuned into these devices depending on what sounds your tinnitus is producing.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing problems you will most likely 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 many different treatments are available that could reduce the symptoms. The trick is identifying the one that works for you.