Tinnitus is the term used to describe the condition of having ringing, buzzing, or noise in the ear or originating from the head. You may notice there is a lot of information out there talking about how to handle your tinnitus. First things first, unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus (American Tinnitus Association, 2016). Beware of hokey tinnitus cures you hear about on the radio or see online. Be sure to see a licensed hearing care provider about your tinnitus to determine your best treatment option.
Treating the Cause
Tinnitus can be caused by many things, and is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. The treatment for your particular tinnitus will depend on the condition that is causing it, the severity, any accompanying issues such as hearing loss, and the impact the tinnitus has on daily activities.
Common causes of tinnitus include:
- Stress and depression
- Hearing loss
- Exposure to loud noises
- Earwax buildup or blockages
- Abnormal bone growth in the ear
- Meniere’s disease
- Head or neck injuries
- Benign tumor of the cranial nerve
In order to find out the root cause of your tinnitus, we request your complete medical history and conduct a comprehensive hearing evaluation.
What Treatments are Available?
Depending on the cause of your tinnitus and other factors, several treatments are available, including medical options as well as alternative therapies.
A common treatment is acoustic therapy or sound therapy. Sound therapy makes use of sounds to help the brain re-focus and diminish the emotional impact of the tinnitus.
Tinnitus Management
Stanford Hearing provides a comprehensive program that benefits patients suffering from Tinnitus. Our belief is that, while there isn’t a cure, there are evidence-based solutions to improve the effects Tinnitus has on your life. Our program consists of 4 comprehensive 90-minute sessions at weekly/biweekly intervals. These sessions follow an incremental learning-based approach to explore four impact areas of tinnitus: thoughts and emotions, hearing and communication, sleep, and concentration. To learn more about Tinnitus Management, contact us today.