Are you experiencing a ringing noise in your ear that only you can hear?
If so, you are probably experiencing tinnitus.
Don’t be alarmed, tinnitus affects over 50 million Americans and happens to almost everyone at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes described as “the ringing in the ears”, tinnitus can be very annoying and harmful to your quality of life. It might be time to take a visit to an audiologist if you or your loved ones are experiencing tinnitus, as it can be an early sign of hearing loss.
Tinnitus is an internal sound of ringing in one’s ears when no external sound is present. The internal noise can be heard in only one ear, or both ears, and it can be present at all times, or it can come and go. Chronic tinnitus occurs when the ringing lasts over 6 months and is highly related to hearing loss. Although the sound of ringing is the most common noise people hear, sounds like buzzing, and humming can occur as well. Pulsatile tinnitus occurs when one hears pulsing sounds, commonly in beat with their heartbeat. If you are experiencing Pulsatile tinnitus, you should visit an audiologist immediately, as there are more serious conditions linked to this type of sound.
There are two different types of tinnitus, subjective and objective. Subjective tinnitus occurs when only the patient can hear the ringing in their ears, and objective tinnitus occurs when both the patient and the audiologist can hear the noise. Objective tinnitus is very rare and dangerous, as it stems from problems in one’s blood flow.
The early stages of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss are the number one reason why most people experience tinnitus. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises like concerts, plane engines, etc. Ear injuries, ear infections, smoking, and head or neck injuries are other reasons someone might be experiencing ringing in their ears.
Although there is no cure or treatment for tinnitus, there are ways to help your body adjust to the ringing. Hearing Aids are one of the main resources for people experiencing tinnitus. The hearing aids will help block out the ringing noise, as well as enhance your hearing. Another resource that can help deal with tinnitus is sound therapy. Sound therapy lessons can help the patient learn how to naturally block out the ringing noise and focus on the important noises. Wearing over-the-ear headphones or ear buds is an easy way to help prevent the chance of experiencing tinnitus.
Tinnitus can be very harmful to one’s quality of life, as it leads to things like anxiety, depression, and insomnia. If you or your loved ones are experiencing tinnitus, or think you might have hearing loss, contact New Generation Hearing Centers today for a free consultation.
