Relief for the Ringing in Your Ears – Tinnitus Management in Lufkin, TX
Statistics show that tinnitus affects about 75% of Americans in some form. Most experience only temporary tinnitus that lingers for a few hours after being in a noisy stadium, a loud concert, a night in the club, discharging a firearm with ear protection, or from an explosive event.
However, there are those who experience a ringing in their ears 24/7, which makes it difficult to concentrate while working or studying, makes relaxing nearly impossible, or makes it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Although chronic tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, it is often associated with the damage to your hearing that leads to hearing loss.
At Audiological Services, our tinnitus specialist understands your struggle with tinnitus and is eager to provide answers about tinnitus as well as the ongoing relief you’re searching for through tinnitus management.
Maybe you’re wondering “Where can I find a tinnitus specialist near me?” Look no further, we’re here to help.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a neurological condition that causes the perception of sounds that are not actually there or a “phantom” perception generated somewhere along the auditory pathway. The exact cause of tinnitus is not known, but many researchers define it as being similar to “phantom limb” experienced by amputees.
For some, tinnitus is a ringing sound, but others might experience buzzing, humming, crickets, or similar sounds. Tinnitus may come from damage to the inner ear (usually associated with hearing loss), a middle ear infection or buildup of fluid in the middle ear, Meniere’s disease, and earwax buildup, but it can also be linked to ototoxic drugs and medications, high blood pressure, hyper/hypothyroidism, diabetes, and acoustic neuromas.
Myths and Facts about Tinnitus
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Myth #1: Tinnitus is an incurable disease.
Tinnitus is a symptom of another underlying condition. Intense noises, nerve damage, vascular diseases, and even brain injuries are among the health problems that can contribute to tinnitus. Although there is no “cure,” there are treatments that will reduce the symptoms and make it easier to cope. If you’re looking for “tinnitus treatment near me” that can help manage your symptoms – look no further.
Myth #2: If I change my diet, my tinnitus will disappear.
While certain additives and foodstuffs, such as alcohol, salt, and caffeine, can exacerbate tinnitus, they are not the root cause. Tinnitus management strategies can include making changes to one’s diet and lifestyle, but they will not be enough to get rid of tinnitus on their own.
Myth #3: There’s nothing I can do about tinnitus.
Myth #4: Only people with a hearing loss suffer from tinnitus.
People with a hearing loss may also have tinnitus, but it is also possible to have tinnitus without having a hearing loss. Ongoing exposure to intense noise, such as a rock concert or an explosion, can lead to temporary tinnitus as can certain medical conditions and the use of certain drugs, but the damage causing the tinnitus can also lead to hearing loss, so it is worth seeing an audiologist to find answers.
Myth #5: Hearing aids won’t help with tinnitus.
Modern hearing aid technology can provide management solutions for both hearing loss and the symptoms of tinnitus by increasing external sounds to help mask the internal sounds of tinnitus as well as supply white noise and other forms of acoustic therapy.
Myth #6: There are pills that you can take to make tinnitus disappear.
There are plenty of scammers ready to sell you a “cure” for tinnitus in the form of a vitamin supplement or pill. Where medications and supplements can play a role in helping manage tinnitus symptoms, there is no “magic pill” for treating tinnitus. Consult an audiologist to discuss these options.
Myth # 7: Tinnitus is all in your head.
In spite of the fact that other people can’t “hear” your tinnitus and there are no test results to prove that you have it, tinnitus is very real. Millions worldwide experience the debilitating effects of tinnitus; but instead of suffering alone, they can consult a tinnitus doctor for symptom management and an improved quality of life.
How Can Audiological Services Relieve the Constant Ringing in My Ears?
It is important to remember that tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Because tinnitus may be symptomatic of a more serious disorder, it is important to try to find the medical cause before deciding on treatment.
While there is no known cure for ringing in the ears, there are many management options available, and most tinnitus sufferers can find varying degrees of relief from one or a combination of the following:
Medications
There is no single medication that works on all tinnitus patients. Some antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications that are available are helpful for certain tinnitus patients, and lipoflavonoids have been known to help some tinnitus patients, but more research is needed in this area.
In some cases, medications or the medication combinations you are using to treat other conditions can cause tinnitus and changing to a different formula can help alleviate symptoms.
Auditory Habituation / Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
There are two main components associated with TRT: directive counseling and low-level sound generators.
Directive counseling provides intensive, individualized education regarding the causes and effects of tinnitus on the ear, the brain, and the coping mechanism. Low-level sound generators produce broadband noise via hearing aid type devices at a soft enough level so that the brain perceives both the noise and the tinnitus.
The objective is to help the brain relearn a pattern that will de-emphasize the importance of the tinnitus sounds. These techniques and technologies may be helpful in desensitizing patients who are overly sensitive to sound.
Acoustic Therapy
The use of an externally produced sound to either cover up or in some way inhibit or alter production of tinnitus can offer relief for some. There are five main methods of acoustic stimulation:
- A sound generator, sometimes called tinnitus masker, is an ear-level electronic device housed in a hearing aid case that produces white noise.
- A tinnitus instrument is a combination hearing aid and sound generator.
- Hearing aids help to amplify speech as well as environmental noise and thus stimulate areas of the ear and brain that otherwise may not be receiving adequate stimulation because of the hearing loss.
- A tabletop or portable sound generator can be purchased at certain electronic suppliers such as the Sharper Image.
- Home masking, such as the use of an electric fan, radio, or television, may provide enough help.
- Music therapy.
Music Therapy
Some tinnitus sufferers find that masking noise is just substituting one annoying sound with another. A more successful approach relegates the annoyance of tinnitus to the background of one’s consciousness through habituation or retraining methods.
Music, particularly classical passages that don’t contain wide variations in loudness (amplitude), can be both soothing to the limbic system (the emotional processor in the brain that is commonly negatively linked to a patient’s reaction to tinnitus) and stimulating to the auditory cortex.
Hearing Aids
The use of hearing aids and a combination of hearing aids and maskers are often effective ways to minimize tinnitus.
While it is not clear whether hearing aids help by amplifying background sounds that can mask the tinnitus or by actually altering the production of tinnitus, most hearing aid wearers report at least some reduction in their tinnitus. This may be due to the reduction in contrast between tinnitus and silence or because of the new stimulation provided to the brain.
Stress Management
Stress plays a significant role in the aggravation of tinnitus symptoms. Consequently, the ability to maintain one’s composure and logic when trying to cope with tinnitus can help limit its effects. Relaxation, guided imagery, and self-hypnosis are examples of self-help methods used to help combat the stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances associated with tinnitus.
Psychological intervention aimed at successfully reducing the stress, distress, and distraction associated with the tinnitus can be very productive and often produces the most attainable goals.
If you’re looking for tinnitus doctors , you’ll find the very best at Audiological Services.
Medications
There is no single medication that works on all tinnitus patients. Some antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications available are helpful for certain tinnitus patients, and lipoflavonoids have been known to help some tinnitus patients, but more research is needed in this area.
In some cases, medications or medication combinations you are using to treat other conditions can cause tinnitus and changing to a different formula can help alleviate symptoms.
Auditory Habituation / Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
There are two main components associated with TRT: directive counseling and low-level sound generators.
Directive counseling provides intensive, individualized education regarding the causes and effects of tinnitus on the ear, the brain, and the coping mechanism. Low-level sound generators produce broadband noise via hearing aid type devices at a soft enough level so that the brain perceives both the noise and the tinnitus.
The objective is to help the brain may relearn a pattern that will de-emphasize the importance of the tinnitus sounds. These techniques and technologies may be helpful in desensitizing patients who are overly sensitive to sound.
Acoustic Therapy
The use of an externally produced sound to either cover up or in some way inhibit or alter production of tinnitus can offer relief for some. There are five main methods of acoustic stimulation:
- A sound generator, sometimes called tinnitus masker, is an ear-level electronic device housed in a hearing aid case that produces white noise.
- A tinnitus instrument is a combination hearing aid and sound generator.
- Hearing aids help to amplify speech as well as environmental noise and thus stimulate areas of the ear and brain that otherwise may not be receiving adequate stimulation because of the hearing loss.
- A tabletop or portable sound generator can be purchased at certain electronic suppliers such as the Sharper Image.
- Home masking, such as the use of an electric fan, radio, or television, may provide enough help.
- Music therapy.
Music Therapy
Some tinnitus sufferers find that masking noise is just substituting one annoying sound with another. A more successful approach relegates the annoyance of tinnitus to the background of one’s consciousness through habituation or retraining methods.
Music, particularly classical passages that don’t contain wide variations in loudness (amplitude), can be both soothing to the limbic system (the emotional processor in the brain that is commonly negatively linked to a patient’s reaction to tinnitus) and stimulating to the auditory cortex.
Hearing Aids
The use of hearing aids and a combination of hearing aids and maskers are often effective ways to minimize tinnitus.
While it is not clear whether hearing aids help by amplifying background sounds that can mask the tinnitus or by actually altering the production of tinnitus, most hearing aid wearers report at least some reduction in their tinnitus. This may be due to the reduction in contrast between tinnitus and silence or because of the new stimulation provided to the brain.
Stress Management
Stress plays a significant role in the aggravation of tinnitus symptoms. Consequently, the ability to maintain one’s composure and logic when trying to cope with tinnitus can help limit its effects. Relaxation, guided imagery, and self-hypnosis are examples of self-help methods used to help combat the stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances associated with tinnitus.
Psychological intervention aimed at successfully reducing the stress, distress, and distraction associated with the tinnitus can be very productive and often produces the most attainable goals.
Preventing and Minimizing Tinnitus
The following may help prevent and/or minimize tinnitus:
- Reduce exposure to extremely loud noise
- Avoid total silence
- Decrease salt intake
- Monitor blood pressure
- Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine
- Exercise
- Reduce fatigue
- Manage stress
- Educate yourself
Comprehensive Tinnitus Consultation
At Audiological Services, our tinnitus specialist offers a comprehensive tinnitus consultation, which includes tinnitus severity and character assessments, a full audiological evaluation, and otoscopy. The results of these evaluations will help us determine your treatment options.
The first step to your relief from tinnitus is just a call away. Our friendly staff and leading tinnitus doctors are eager to meet you and are dedicated to finding a solution that brings relief from the constant ringing in your ears.
Don’t allow tinnitus to dictate your life. Instead, take control of it. Reach out to us today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with a tinnitus doctor near you.
Schedule a Tinnitus Assessment
If you or a loved one is struggling with the ringing, buzzing, or humming sound of tinnitus on a frequent or ongoing basis, a tinnitus assessment from our tinnitus specialist at Audiological Services is your first step toward gaining control over your condition.
Complete and submit the adjacent form to schedule a tinnitus assessment so you can start to take your life back from the ongoing frustration caused by tinnitus.
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