Tinnitus is typically associated with phantom ringing in the ears. “Phantom” refers to the fact that the sound is not externally occuring and is heard only by you. In addition to ringing, phantom sounds can take many other forms, including roaring, whistling, humming, buzzing or clicking.
Tinnitus is very common. Many individuals who have been exposed to particularly loud machinery or music receive feedback in their ears even after the sound has ceased. It is estimated that more than 10 percent of Americans have experienced some form of tinnitus in the past year, and approximately 12 million individuals–nearly 4 percent of the population–suffer from severe, chronic tinnitus.
Chronic tinnitus can be disorienting and disruptive to daily functions. That is why it is important to consult with a medical professional, such as the doctors at Sierra Nevada Ear, Nose & Throat. Make an appointment today to learn more about diagnosis and tinnitus treatment options.
Symptoms
Tinnitus is not a disease in and of itself, but rather the symptom of an underlying condition. The hallmark of tinnitus is a ringing, roaring, whistling, humming, buzzing or clicking sound that can be heard only by the individual patient. This is called subjective tinnitus. Occasionally, a medical professional will hear a sound when putting a stethoscope to the patient’s ear. This is called objective tinnitus. The sound can be intermittent or continuous, and it can occur in one or both ears.
Other symptoms that may accompany tinnitus include hearing loss, ear pain or drainage and dizziness.
There are a number of possible causes of tinnitus. Some of the most common are:
- Age-related hearing loss
- Hormonal changes
- A head injury
- Environmental damage caused by exposure to noise such as an explosion, loud job site or concert
- Medications, including some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs
- A ruptured eardrum, often from the insertion of a foreign object
- Blockage in the ear, typically from excessive ear wax, an ear infection or chronic sinus congestion due to allergies
Sometimes, tinnitus may also signal underlying health conditions, such as:
- Ménière’s disease
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Neurological disease
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes, anemia or migraines
- Certain tumors in the head or neck region
Does Tinnitus Go Away?
If you are experiencing tinnitus for the first time–say, as the result of attending a loud concert–it is possible that it will go away within 48 hours. If, however, your tinnitus is frequent, ongoing or otherwise impacting your quality of life, it is important to seek professional care.
Sometimes the underlying condition causing tinnitus is curable, and it is possible to alleviate chronic tinnitus. In other situations, it is more difficult to determine the underlying condition causing the tinnitus, or the underlying condition cannot be cured. If this is the case, there are a number of effective tinnitus treatment options to manage or mitigate the symptoms and effects.
How to Treat Tinnitus
Because tinnitus can be caused by several underlying conditions, it is crucial to visit a medical professional to understand the root cause.
When a patient comes to Sierra Nevada ENT complaining of tinnitus, our doctors first take a detailed medical history–including a list of current medications–and chart the onset, severity, frequency and duration of symptoms. We typically perform three tests: a physical exam of the ears, audiometry (hearing test) and tympanometry (eardrum test). We may also recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), depending on the results of the hearing test. This will allow us to provide an appropriate diagnosis and develop a patient-specific treatment plan.
Sometimes, there is a relatively easy fix, like switching a medicine that is causing tinnitus, removing impacted ear wax or treating an infection with antibiotics and ear drops.
If it is not possible to rid a patient of tinnitus, there are other methods to reduce its impact. Treatment options include:
- Hearing aids or masking devices, used to minimize the phantom sounds through the amplification of external sounds or production of white noise
- Sound therapy, in which an external device produces background noises designed to make the phantom sounds less noticeable
- Cognitive therapy, or counseling services that emphasize patterns of thought and behavior that allow an individual to more effectively cope with tinnitus
- Relaxation techniques, such as learning to recognize and manage stress through biofeedback, deep breathing or movement
Many times, treatment incorporates several of these methods; for example, the combination of sound therapy and counseling is known as tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and has proven very effective in some cases.
Who to See
An ENT doctor is specially trained in the anatomy, physiology and pathology of not just just the ears, nose and throat, but in the general structure and function of the head and neck. Our training includes 15 years of college, medical school, a residency and an internship and board certification by the American Board of Otolaryngology. For this reason, ENT specialists are your best resource for diagnosing and treating conditions impacting the ears, such as tinnitus.
With locations in Reno, Carson City, Gardnerville and Fallon, Sierra Nevada ENT has been proudly serving the Northern Nevada area for over 25 years. Our medical staff and state-of-the-art Hearing Aid Center serve patients who experience tinnitus as a result of hearing loss and many other underlying conditions. Our experts tailor tinnitus treatment to each individual, helping them reduce impact and return to normal daily function.
To meet with our highly skilled team, please schedule an appointment at one of our four locations today.
