The buzzing 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 noticed just how noisy (and how relentless) that buzzing has become. At times, it sounds like ringing or other noises. You don’t know if you should contact us or how ringing in your ears could even be managed.
The source of your tinnitus symptoms will significantly establish what treatment will be most suitable for you. But there are certain common threads that can help you prepare for your own tinnitus treatment.
What kind of tinnitus are you experiencing?
Tinnitus is not uncommon. There can be a variety of causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus sounds you’re hearing). So in terms of treatment, tinnitus is often divided into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Inherent medical problems, including ear infections, excessive earwax, a growth, or other medical problems, can be the cause of tinnitus. Medical professionals will usually attempt to treat the underlying issue as their first priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is related to hearing damage or hearing loss is usually referred to as “non-medical” tinnitus. Severe, persistent, and chronic tinnitus can be the outcome of hearing damage caused by long term exposure to loud noise (like at your construction site). Non-medical tinnitus is often more difficult to manage.
The kind of tinnitus you have, and the underlying cause of the hearing condition, will establish the best ways to treat those symptoms.
Treatments for medical tinnitus
Your medical tinnitus symptoms will usually go away when the root medical issue is addressed. Treatments for medical tinnitus may include:
- Antibiotics: Your doctor may 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.
- Hydrocortisone: Certain types of infections will not respond to antibiotics. For instance, antibiotics never work on viral infections. Hydrocortisone may be prescribed in these cases to manage other symptoms.
- Surgery: Doctors may decide to perform surgery to remove any tumor or growth that could be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
If your tinnitus is caused by a medical issue, you’ll want to see us to get individualized treatment options.
Managing non-medical tinnitus
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently a lot more difficult to detect and treat than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure especially if it’s related to hearing impairment. Instead, treatment to improve quality of life by alleviating symptoms is the normal course of action.
- Hearing aids: If your tinnitus turns out to be more prominent as your hearing wanes, a hearing aid could help you control the symptoms of both ailments. When you have hearing loss everything externally becomes quieter and that can make your tinnitus sounds seem louder. A hearing aid can help hide the sound of your tinnitus by raising the volume of everything else.
- Noise-masking devices: Sometimes called “white noise machines,” these devices are made to supply enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the ringing or buzzing brought on by your tinnitus. Specific sounds can be programmed into these devices depending on what noises your tinnitus is producing.
- Medications: There are some experimental medications available for dealing with tinnitus. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be reduced by mixtures of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. Still, you’ll want to talk to us before making any decisions about medications.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can obtain training that will help you learn to disregard your tinnitus sounds. This frequently used strategy has helped lots of individuals do just that.
Find what works
In order to effectively treat your hearing issues you will probably need to explore several strategies as the exact cause of your tinnitus most likely won’t be obvious. Depending on the source of your ringing or buzzing, there might not be a cure for your tinnitus. But numerous different treatment options are available that could reduce the symptoms. Finding the right one for you is the trick.