Tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” affects around 50 million Americans to some degree. Tinnitus is a sensation of sound that presents itself as a ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, roaring, or whooshing sound. For some people, they may experience the symptoms of tinnitus occasionally while others experience it all the time.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Although it is still uncertain how tinnitus begins, there are a few causes.
- Exposure to loud sounds
- Sudden impact noise
- Stress or anxiety
- Ear or sinus infections
- Certain medications
- Head or neck injury
- Hearing loss
Tips for Managing Tinnitus
Although there is not one known cure for tinnitus, there are many ways to manage the ringing in your ears. Many people have found success in managing their tinnitus by following these tips.
Reducing stress – stress and anxiety are a major contributor to tinnitus. Finding productive ways to manage stress can help alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus. Mediation, exercise, and counseling are some ways that can help reduce stress and tinnitus.
Getting enough sleep – it is no surprise that when you get enough sleep every night that you will feel better. For many individuals, the symptoms of tinnitus can seem worse at night when the world around you is quiet. If this is true for you, try listening to a white noise machine or playing soothing sounds on your phone to distract your ears from tinnitus.
Wear hearing aids – if you have hearing loss in addition to tinnitus, then hearing aids will greatly help. Hearing aids will amplify the sounds around you, distracting your brain from the ringing in your ears. Many hearing aids also have a tinnitus masking feature that can play ambient sounds such as ocean waves to distract your brain.
Contact Us for More Help
Tinnitus can be bothersome, no matter what degree you are experiencing it. We can help you find a management plan that will help you experience relief from tinnitus. Contact our office today and see how we can help you with your hearing.