Have you ever heard a noise – like ringing, humming, buzzing, hissing, or roaring – that other people couldn’t hear and whose source you couldn’t identify? For the millions of Americans living with tinnitus, this is an everyday occurrence, and depending on the severity of the condition, it can be absolutely debilitating.
At Fairway Hearing Center, we provide resources, information, and treatment options to people living with tinnitus in Delaware and surrounding areas, and we can help you too. Here is more information about tinnitus and how the hearing aids we stock can help alleviate this condition. Choose us to be your hearing specialist near Lewes, DE.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is not a disease, rather it is a symptom that can result from several other medical conditions, including:
- Age-Related Hearing Loss
- Noise-Related Hearing Loss
- Ear Injuries
- Blockages in the Ear Canal
- Ear Infections
Side Effects from Some Medications
It is characterized by sounds, most commonly a constant ringing, that is not generated by anything in your environment, and that others can’t hear. Because tinnitus can be caused by many health conditions, there is no known cure. In some cases, like ear infections and blockages, tinnitus can be alleviated by treating the underlying condition causing it. Unfortunately, in the case of hearing loss – whether due to age or exposure to loud noises – and ear injuries, treatment options are limited to those that can reduce the symptoms.
Treatment Options for Tinnitus
An audiologist may prescribe any of the following options to lessen the symptoms of tinnitus:
- Hearing Aids – Specialized hearing aids can produce low-level white noise that conceals the frequencies produced by tinnitus, making them less noticeable to the user. Hearing aids can also amplify other sounds in your environment to make them easier to discern. With the right hearing aid, you may be able to hear and distinguish speech and other environmental sounds better, even with tinnitus.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This technique can be used to retrain the mind and alleviate a range of issues. In tinnitus treatment, a patient can be trained to modify their thought patterns to better cope with the stress and anxiety caused by their condition.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) – Through sound therapy, counseling, and lifestyle changes, a person living with tinnitus can learn to ignore the sounds caused by their condition, reshaping their perception of their symptoms and allowing them to have a higher quality of life.
- Sound Machines – White noise, nature sounds, and other soothing sounds can be used to conceal tinnitus symptoms and reduce the stress and distraction associated with them. Sound machines also have the added bonus of reducing background noise and can also help people living with tinnitus get more restful sleep.
Delaware Hearing Specialist
If you are living with tinnitus, we suggest speaking with an audiologist about your condition as soon as possible. Tinnitus can have a huge impact on your ability to work and enjoy your life, and can also negatively impact your relationships with others, so developing a treatment plan is crucial to your quality of life.
Contact us at Fairway Hearing Center to discuss your options for hearing aids near Dagsboro, DE, and surrounding communities, as well as other potential treatments that can work for you!