What is it?

Tinnitus is a subjective experience: one hears sound when there is no external physical sound present. People experience it as head noises or ear-ringing and use a variety of terms such as hissing, roaring, or chirping to describe it.

What causes it?

There are many causes; indeed almost anything that can go wrong with the ear has tinnitus associated with it as a symptom. Problems ranging in severity from overproduction of wax to ear infections to acoustic tumors can produce tinnitus. One of the most common causes is exposure to excessively loud sounds either on the job (musicians, carpenters, pilots) or recreationally (shooting, chain saws, loud music). Tinnitus can sometimes result from problems not associated with the ear, such as head injury or disorders of the neck vertebrae or the temporomandiblular (jaw) joint. It can also be caused by cardiovascular disease, allergies, Meniere's disease, under active thyroid, or degeneration of the bones in the middle ear. It's important to note that more than 200 prescription and non-prescription drugs list tinnitus as a potential side effect.

Do we know what tinnitus is?

The actual mechanism responsible for tinnitus is not yet known. We do know that it is a real--not imagined--symptom of something that has gone wrong in the auditory or neural system.

What can make tinnitus worse?

1. Loud noise
2. Excessive use of alcohol or so-call recreational drugs
3. Caffeine
4. Nicotine
5. Aspirin, Quinine, some antibiotics and hundreds of other drugs which can either cause tinnitus or make existing tinnitus worse.
6. Stress

What should a tinnitus patient do?

Contact an otologist or an otolaryngologist for an examination as soon as possible. The purpose of the examination is to determine if there is a treatable medical condition causing tinnitus. It is important to remember that a natural remission can occur at any time.

What treatments are available for tinnitus?

1. Amplification
2. Masking Units
3. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
4. Drug Therapy
5. Biofeedback
6. Dental Treatment
7. Counseling
8. Cochlear Implants
9. Electrical Stimulation

Other possible treatments include hypnosis, acupuncture, cranio-sacral therapy, chiropractic care, naturopathic treatments and control of allergies.

Source: Information about Tinnitus, American Tinnitus Association

Please set up an appointment today to speak with the audiologist if you are experiencing tinnitus. We also have numerous brochures available on this topic that you can just stop in an pick up.

For more information on tinnitus contact the American Tinnitus Association or visit the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy  website.

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