Understanding Tinnitus and How to Manage It
Have you had a sound in your ears that never seems to go away? It may be high pitched, low pitched, or even sound like crickets. You may notice it more in the morning or evenings when your surroundings are quiet. This sound that you hear is tinnitus. Up to one in four individuals may have tinnitus. You may be one of them.
What is tinnitus? It’s a condition generally characterized by noises in the ear or head that usually can be heard only by the person experiencing the sounds. Ringing, buzzing, humming, clicking, or swooshing might be described, and, more rarely, a patient may even perceive musical notes. Tinnitus isn’t a disease itself but rather a symptom or sign of an underlying problem. Potential causes include hearing loss, noise exposure, cerumen buildup, ear infection, head injury, dental problems, barotrauma, blood vessel disorders, and medications such as antibiotics. Often, tinnitus and hearing loss co-exist and an estimated 90% of individuals that suffer from tinnitus experience some degree of hearing loss.
Living with tinnitus can be frustrating, but minor adjustments to your daily living habits may help make your diagnosis more tolerable. Avoiding possible triggers such as caffeine, salt and high sodium foods, aspirin, alcohol, and tobacco may help relieve tinnitus. Additionally, using a sound machine, fan, or playing soft music in the background in quiet environments can make your tinnitus more manageable. Use these tips, along with any treatment or hearing aids recommended by your audiologist, to help live a more satisfying life with tinnitus.
If you have concerns about hearing loss or struggle with tinnitus, I encourage you to schedule a hearing test with an audiologist at Hearing Associates of South Carolina. Advocate for yourself and others around you towards better hearing.
