The ringing in your ear keeps getting worse. It started off quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” kind of situations. But after spending all day at the construction site (for work), you’ve realized just how noisy (and how relentless) that buzzing has become. At times, it sounds like ringing or other sounds. You’re thinking about coming in to see us, but you’re wondering: how is ringing in the ears addressed?
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will substantially establish what approach will be most suitable for you. But there are certain common threads that can help you prepare for your own tinnitus treatment.
There are a couple of different types of tinnitus
Tinnitus is extremely common. The buzzing or ringing (or any number of sounds) in your ear can be caused by a variety of root problems. 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 problem, such as an ear infection, excessive earwax, or a growth, among other ailments. Dealing with the underlying medical problem will normally be the priority of your medical professional.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is usually saved for tinnitus caused by damaged hearing or hearing loss. Significant, constant, and chronic tinnitus can be the outcome of hearing damage caused by long term exposure to loud noise (like at your construction site). It’s normally very difficult to treat non-medical tinnitus.
The best way to treat your symptoms will be determined by the root cause of your hearing issue and the kind of tinnitus you’re experiencing.
Treatments for medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is related to a root medical ailment, it’s likely that managing your original illness or ailment will alleviate the ringing in your ears. Here are some treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Antibiotics: If your tinnitus is caused by an ear infection (that is, a bacterial ear infection), your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Your tinnitus symptoms will probably go away when the infection clears up.
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be addressed with antibiotics. For example, antibiotics never work on viral infections. Hydrocortisone may be prescribed in these cases to manage other symptoms.
- Surgery: When your tinnitus is a result of a tumor or other growth, doctors could do surgery to remove the mass that is causing your tinnitus, particularly if your symptoms are diminishing your quality of life.
If your tinnitus is caused by a medical problem, you’ll want to contact us to receive individualized treatment options.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently much more difficult to detect and manage than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. There is usually no cure for non-medical tinnitus (particularly in cases where the tinnitus is caused by hearing damage). Treatments, instead highlight alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Medications: Tinnitus is sometimes managed with experimental medication. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be reduced 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 turns out to be more dominant as your hearing diminishes, a hearing aid could help you control the symptoms of both ailments. The tinnitus symptoms will likely seem louder because everything else becomes quieter (due to hearing loss). When you utilize a hearing aid it boosts the volume of the outside world making your tinnitus noises seem quieter.
- Noise-masking devices: Sometimes referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are designed to provide enough sound to decrease your ability to hear the buzzing or ringing due to your tinnitus. Specific sounds can be tuned into these devices depending on what noises your tinnitus is generating.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can obtain training that will help you learn to disregard your tinnitus sounds. This frequently utilized strategy has helped many individuals do just that.
Find what works
For most of us, it won’t be completely clear what’s triggering our tinnitus, so it’s likely you’ll need to try numerous strategies in order to successfully treat your own hearing issues. 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 right one for you is the trick.