Tinnitus Treatment: Do You Really Need It? This Will Help You Decide!

Tinnitus is a problem related to ear where the patient hears a continuous ringing or buzzing sound. Different hearing tests confirm that this hearing problem is not a condition in itself, but could be a symptom of some underlying health issue. Age related hearing loss, ear injury or circulatory system disorder could be few health problems that could have tinnitus as symptom.

Tinnitus is not something to worry about as it does not create any other problem, but can worsen with age. Conditions can be improved with Tinnitus treatment. Treatments work on reducing or masking the sound so that the problem becomes less noticeable.

Tinnitus is believed to be caused because of many reasons, few of them include

• Age related hearing loss: As people age, they may face hearing loss which could cause tinnitus. This hearing loss is known as presbycusis.
• Exposure to loud noise: When people are exposed to loud noises like sounds from various machines, firearms, could aid in noise related hearing loss. Portable music devices can also cause noise related hearing loss if played loudly for long periods.
• Earwax blockage: Earwax generally protects ears from dirt and by slowing the growth of bacteria. If too much of ear wax gets accumulated, it becomes too hard to wash away naturally that could cause hearing loss that may lead to tinnitus.
• Ear bone changes: If bones in the middle ear are stiffened, it may lead to tinnitus. In many cases this could be hereditary.

So it is better to avoid loud noises to be safe from hearing problems.

Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About Tinnitus Treatment

Tinnitus is a medical term that refers to perception of sound in one or both the ears when there is no sound actually present in the surroundings. While there is no known tinnitus treatment, but understanding the symptoms, causes and related illness can help ease and manage the condition well.

It is better to go for audiology services as soon as you feel discomfort or pain in your ear or hearing loss. The doctor would check your ear properly and do the following procedures after he is sure that you have tinnitus problems.

If your audiologist feels your tinnitus problem is related to an underlying health condition, then the steps he would take include

• Earwax removal: Removing earwax that has accumulated in the ear can reduce earwax symptoms.
• Blood vessel treatment: Underlying vascular conditions may require medication or surgery that could help with tinnitus.
• Change in medicines: In few cases tinnitus could be a side effect of medications you are taking. Your doctor would then recommend stopping the drug or switching to a different medication.

In cases when these strategies are not helpful, the ear specialist would introduce few devices that would make the ringing sound less bothersome. Some of the devices include

• White noise machines: These devices make sounds like rains, ocean waves are often effective treatment for tinnitus.
• Hearing aids: Such device can be helpful if you have hearing problems as well as tinnitus.
• Retraining: A wearable device that delivers individually programmed tonal music that masks specific frequencies of tinnitus. Counselling is often a component of tinnitus retraining.

Experts suggest that it is better to consult a specialist if you face even a small problem with your ear.