You have a ringing in your ears and it’s not getting any better, if anything it’s getting worse. At first, you could barely hear it. But after spending all day at the construction site (for work), you’ve noticed just how noisy (and how relentless) that buzzing has become. Sometimes, it sounds like ringing or other sounds. You’re thinking about coming in to see us, but you’re not sure: how is buzzing in the ears treated?
The source of your tinnitus symptoms will greatly 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 ready.
What type of tinnitus are you experiencing?
Tinnitus is not unusual. There can be numerous causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus noises you’re hearing). That’s why tinnitus is often divided into two categories in terms of treatment:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an inherent medical issue, like an ear infection, excessive earwax, or a growth, among other conditions. Medical providers will usually try to treat the root problem as their primary priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is generally saved for tinnitus caused by hearing damage or hearing impairment. 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 often more difficult to treat.
The type of tinnitus you have, and the underlying cause of the hearing affliction, will establish the best ways to treat those symptoms.
Treating medical tinnitus
Your medical tinnitus symptoms will typically clear up when the root medical problem is treated. Here are some treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Surgery: When your tinnitus is related to a tumor or other growth, doctors could do surgery to remove the mass that’s causing your tinnitus, particularly if your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life.
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be addressed with antibiotics. Viral infections, for instance, never respond to antibiotic solutions. In these cases, your doctor might prescribe hydrocortisone to help you manage other symptoms.
- Antibiotics: Your doctor might prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is caused by a bacterial ear infection. Once the infection goes away, it’s likely that your hearing will go back to normal.
You’ll want to schedule an appointment to come see us so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, particularly if you’re dealing with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatment options
Usually, medical tinnitus is a lot easier to diagnose and treat than non-medical tinnitus. There’s normally no cure for non-medical tinnitus (especially in cases where the tinnitus is caused by hearing damage). Treatments, instead highlight treating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Noise-masking devices: Often called “white noise machines,” these devices are created to supply enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the ringing or buzzing brought on by your tinnitus. Specific sounds can be tuned into these devices depending on what sounds your tinnitus is generating.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can get training that will help you learn to disregard your tinnitus sounds. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a widely used method created to help you reach just that.
- Medications: Tinnitus is sometimes treated with experimental medication. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be decreased by combinations of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. But before you make any decisions, you’ll want to talk to us.
- Hearing aids: If your tinnitus becomes more prominent as your hearing diminishes, a hearing aid could help you control the symptoms of both conditions. When you have hearing loss everything externally gets 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 sounds seem quieter.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing issues you will most likely need to try out several strategies as the exact cause of your tinnitus most likely won’t be clear. Depending on the source of your ringing or buzzing, there might not be a cure for your tinnitus. But there are various treatments available. Finding the best one for you is the trick.
