Tinnitus

What Are the Signs of Tinnitus?

People with tinnitus often report hearing sounds like ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, pulsing, whooshing, chirping, whistling, or clicking. They hear these noises in one ear or both ears. The sound can change in volume or pitch. Tinnitus may be more noticeable at night or in quiet places because there are fewer distractions.

What Are Some Factors Associated With Tinnitus?

We do not always know the exact cause of tinnitus. Factors that might cause or be associated with tinnitus include:

● anemia

● drugs or medications, including those that are toxic to hearing

● earwax

● head and neck tumors

● head injury

● hearing loss

● high blood pressure

● loud sounds

● Ménière’s disease (an inner ear disorder)

● middle ear dysfunction

● migraines

● otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in your middle or inner ear)

● smoking cigarettes and/or vaping

● stress and fatigue

What to Do if You Think You Have Tinnitus

If you think you might have tinnitus, talk to your doctor or an audiologist. An audiologist can test your hearing, assess you for tinnitus, and discuss management options with you.

Learning About Your Tinnitus

If you have tinnitus, your doctor can check for some of the medical issues that may cause tinnitus. You should also have your hearing tested by an audiologist. Some types of hearing loss and hearing problems can cause tinnitus. An audiologist can help you learn about potential causes and treatment options.

During a tinnitus evaluation, an audiologist may ask questions like:

• Do you hear ringing in your left ear, right ear, or both?
• Can you describe the sound?
• Is the sound constant?
• What factors make your symptoms better or worse?
• How does tinnitus impact your daily activities? Your sleep? Your concentration?

They may also perform tests to determine the pitch and loudness of the tinnitus. This information helps to determine the best management strategies.

As a patient, learning about tinnitus can be a relief. You can start to take control of it by making changes to reduce your symptoms.

What Are Some Ways to Manage Tinnitus?

There's no universal cure for tinnitus, but several approaches can help manage the condition:

• Address the underlying causes. Treating conditions like ear infections may reduce symptoms.
• Use hearing aids. For people with hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify external sounds, making tinnitus less noticeable.
• Use sound therapy. Using devices that produce background noise can help mask (cover up) tinnitus sounds. For example, tinnitus maskers are devices that look like hearing aids. They make a sound that covers up the tinnitus, distracting you from the tinnitus sounds in your ears. Some hearing aids have a built-in tinnitus masker.
• Participate in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help change thought patterns associated with tinnitus and reduce distress.
• Practice stress management. Techniques like relaxation exercises and mindfulness can help reduce the distress related to tinnitus.

To address tinnitus, you may work with an audiologist; an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT); a psychologist; or another specialist. These professionals can help you find the treatment that works best for you.

To find an audiologist near you, visit ProFind.

Resources

Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement.

• American Tinnitus Association (ATA)