You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not getting any better, if anything it’s getting worse. At first, you could hardly hear it. But you’ve observed how loud and constant the tinnitus sounds have become after a full day on the job at a construction site. These noises can take many forms, such as ringing, buzzing, or any number of noises. You’re thinking about coming in to see us, but you’re wondering: how is ringing in the ears addressed?
The source of your tinnitus symptoms will greatly establish what treatment will be right for you. But your own tinnitus treatment will share some common threads with others that can help you get prepared.
What type of tinnitus do you have?
Tinnitus is very common. There can be a variety of causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus sounds you’re hearing). So in terms of treatment, tinnitus is usually split into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an inherent medical issue, like an ear infection, too much earwax, or a growth, among other ailments. Medical professionals will usually attempt to treat the root problem as their primary priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: Tinnitus that is related to hearing damage or hearing loss is typically known 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). It’s normally very challenging to manage non-medical tinnitus.
The type of tinnitus you have, and the root cause of the hearing affliction, will establish the best ways to treat those symptoms.
Treating medical tinnitus
Your medical tinnitus symptoms will typically improve when the root medical issue is addressed. Here are a few treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be addressed with antibiotics. For instance, antibiotics never work on viral infections. In these situations, your doctor might prescribe hydrocortisone to help you control other symptoms.
- Surgery: Doctors might decide to do surgery to eliminate any tumor or growth that could be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
- Antibiotics: If your tinnitus is related to an ear infection (that is, a bacterial ear infection), your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Once the infection clears up, it’s likely that your hearing will return to normal.
You’ll want to make an appointment to come see us so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, particularly if you’re coping with medical tinnitus.
Treatments for non-medical tinnitus
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are frequently a lot harder to detect and treat than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure especially if it’s caused by hearing loss. Instead, treatment to enhance quality of life by alleviating symptoms is the normal strategy.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In some circumstances, you can be trained to ignore the sounds of your tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a widely used strategy designed to help you achieve just that.
- Hearing aids: If your tinnitus turns out to be more prominent as your hearing wanes, a hearing aid may help you control the symptoms of both conditions. The tinnitus symptoms will likely seem louder because everything else gets quieter (due to hearing loss). When you utilize a hearing aid it boosts the volume of the external world making your tinnitus noises seem quieter.
- Medications: Tinnitus is sometimes treated with experimental medication. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be reduced by mixtures of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. But before you make any decisions, you’ll want to speak with us.
- Noise-masking devices: These devices mask your tinnitus sounds by producing enough white noise to allow the buzzing or ringing to fade into the background. Specific sounds can be tuned into these devices depending on what noises your tinnitus is producing.
Find what works
In order to effectively treat your hearing issues you will most likely need to explore several strategies as the exact cause of your tinnitus most likely won’t be obvious. Depending on the source of your buzzing or ringing, there might not be a cure for your tinnitus. But there are numerous treatments available. Finding the right one for you is the trick.