Tinnitus is the perception of sounds such as ringing, buzzing, humming or other noises when there is no external sound source. Tinnitus can affect people differently and may be temporary or ongoing.
At Fischer Hearing Centre, we can help you better understand your tinnitus and explore appropriate management strategies based on your individual needs.
When Should You Seek Help for Tinnitus?
Consider speaking with a hearing professional if you:
- Frequently notice ringing or other sounds in your ears
- Find that tinnitus is affecting your concentration
- Have difficulty sleeping because of tinnitus
- Notice changes in your hearing along with tinnitus
- Find tinnitus distracting or difficult to manage
- Have concerns about changes in your hearing
If tinnitus is new, persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, a professional assessment can help determine appropriate next steps.
What to Expect from Tinnitus Management
Tinnitus management begins with understanding your individual experience and hearing needs.
1. Discuss Your Symptoms
We'll talk about what you're experiencing, when you notice your tinnitus and how it may be affecting your everyday life.
2. Assess Your Hearing
A hearing assessment can help provide a better understanding of your hearing and identify whether hearing difficulties may be associated with your experience of tinnitus.
3. Explore Management Options
Based on your individual needs, we can discuss appropriate strategies and hearing care options that may help you manage tinnitus.
4. Ongoing Support
Your experience with tinnitus can change over time. Follow-up care can help you review your progress and make adjustments where appropriate.
Living With Tinnitus
Everyone experiences tinnitus differently. What works for one person may not work for another, which is why personalized care is important.
Learning more about tinnitus and understanding your hearing health can help you make informed decisions about your care.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Tinnitus and hearing loss can sometimes occur together. If you experience both, a hearing evaluation can help provide a clearer picture of your hearing health and guide the conversation about appropriate hearing care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tinnitus Management
According to the Mayo Clinic, tinnitus is a symptom of more than 200 different health conditions, not a disease itself. The most common causes can be broken down into four different types:
Conditions relating to hearing loss. There are delicate hair cells in the inner ear or cochlea that move when sound waves enter the ear. This movement triggers electrical signals in the auditory nerve. The brain interprets these signals as sound.
Age and/or exposure to loud noise may break or bend the fragile hairs inside the inner ear. When the hairs are broken or bent, they “leak” random electrical impulses to the brain, causing tinnitus.
Medicines harmful to the ear. There are medications that can cause or worsen tinnitus. Typically, the higher the dose, the worse the tinnitus becomes. Often, the tinnitus goes away when the medication is halted.
Medications and substances known to cause or worsen tinnitus may include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
- Some antibiotics.
- Cancer medications.
- Water pills (diuretics).
- Medications to treat malaria.
- Some antidepressants.
- Marijuana.
- Tobacco.
- Some herbal supplements.
Always check the label or consult your Physician if tinnitus starts or changes in duration or intensity when starting a new medication.
Conditions relating to ear structure and function, which may include:
- Ear infections.
- Canal blockage such as wax or debris.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction.
- Conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Conditions related to blood vessels.
Blood flow changes can cause tinnitus or make it louder.
Tinnitus does not mean that you have a hearing loss, though they are very frequently linked. Approximately 90% of people with chronic tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus is often a sign that there is something wrong with your auditory system. Damage to the auditory system, when the hear cells are broken or bent (often from aging, or loud noise exposure) can cause both hearing loss and the phantom sounds that tinnitus creates.
Yes, if it is caused by a temporary trigger. Exposure to loud noise such as a concert can result in the ears ringing for a few days and may disappear as the ear heals from the trauma.
Temporary blockages such as wax can cause tinnitus which disappears when the obstruction is removed.
Stress and medication changes can cause tinnitus which disappears when the stress is alleviated or the medication is stopped or a dosage changed.
Yes, hearing aids are typically considered the best solution to reduce tinnitus. They are not a cure but provide good relief for many people.
Hearing aids fit to target increase the sounds around you, helping to mask out the sounds of tinnitus.
Addressing the hearing loss and improving your ability to hear also reduces listening fatigue and stress, common triggers for tinnitus. We are trying to retrain your brain to ignore the ringing and instead focus on the sounds around you.
If your tinnitus starts suddenly and lasts longer than a week, if the tinnitus is one-sided, if it interferes with your sleep and/or concentration or makes you depressed or anxious, a visit with your primary care Physician is recommended.
There are many management strategies to help ease the effects of tinnitus.
If hearing loss is identified, consider amplification to improve communication and ease the effects of tinnitus.
Avoid silence; playing low-level sounds like a fan, having a tv or radio on low provide continuous background sounds that help to distract the brain from the ringing.
Practice daily relaxation or deep breathing to lower stress levels, take a walk, pet your dog. Stress activates the nervous system and makes the perception of ringing louder. Anything that reduces stress is beneficial.
Protect the ears from noise, all noise. Occupational noise, concerts, power tools, firearms, fireworks are all loud enough to cause inner ear damage, further bending or breaking those fragile hair cells. Protect those ears whenever you can.
Your Audiologist is a great resource to help manage your tinnitus, providing solutions and suggestions and referrals as needed.