TINNITUS
SYMPTOMS
Tinnitus is most often described as a ringing in the ears in the absence of external auditory sounds. Symptoms can also present in the form of buzzing, clicking, roaring, hissing, humming, etc. However, in rare cases, symptoms can present as a rhythmic or whooshing sound, and is referred to as pulsatile tinnitus. It’s important to consult a medical professional as soon as possible if tinnitus presents with sudden onset dizziness or hearing loss. This sound can be heard in one or both ears. Common symptoms include:
- Sleeplessness or trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
- Concentration problems
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Stress
- Fatigue
CAUSES
- Hearing Loss – Small and delicate hair cells inside the hearing organ (cochlea) may be damaged as a result of age or noise exposure. False electrical impulses within the auditory system can cause tinnitus as a result of hearing loss
- Ear infections or excessive wax (cerumen) build-up
- Head or neck trauma can affect the cochlea, auditory nerve, or brain. Most often, this resulting tinnitus is one-sided (unilateral)
- Medication – the severity of tinnitus symptoms is usually dose-dependent. The higher the dose, the worse the tinnitus becomes
- Other common causes include Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Middle Ear disorders (cholesteatoma, infection, otosclerosis, etc.), Meniere’s Disease, Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma), Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems, blood vessel disorders, etc.
ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT
- Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) Questionnaire
- Pure Tone Hearing Evaluation – 70 – 80% of patients who suffer from tinnitus have an underlying hearing loss
- Tinnitus Pitch Matching
- Tinnitus Loudness Matching
- Treating an ear infection
- Cerumen (wax) management
- Medication review with your family doctor
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) – understanding the underlying cause of tinnitus, counseling, and masking devices can help treat and reduce the severity of tinnitus
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – a psychological approach to manage and cope with tinnitus
- Stress management and a regular sleep schedule – stress, fatigue, and exhaustion can worsen your tinnitus symptoms
- Noise Generators – quiet environments can make tinnitus more noticeable. Stimulating the auditory cortex is an important distraction, and can help reduce the severity of symptoms
- Surgical Intervention – tympanoplasty, eustachian tube dilation, stapedotomy, atticotomy, mastoidectomy, etc.
AMPLIFICATION AND MASKING DEVICES
Nearly 1 in 5 elderly patients suffer from some form of tinnitus, and 70 – 80% of those patients have an underlying hearing loss. Treating hearing loss with amplification can be classified as a form of sound therapy, and can significantly reduce the severity of tinnitus. By increasing auditory stimuli, the brain is diverted away from focusing on tinnitus and can reduce the perception of tinnitus.
Pinpointing the pitch and loudness of your tinnitus with a tinnitus assessment will help us program a tinnitus masking device more accurately. Masking devices, if programmed correctly, can help reduce the severity of your tinnitus.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus Masking Noise Generator
Tinnitus and Hearing Aids
Questions?
Please contact us for general inquiries, upcoming
appointments and surgical questions.
