Tinnitus is derived from the Latin word “tinnere,” which means “a ringing” or “to ring.” The condition is mainly characterized as an unwanted auditory perception of noise that is of internal origin and is rarely heard by others.
For some individuals, tinnitus may be dismissable; but for others, tinnitus may be severe to the point of disrupting everyday life. This blog post will discuss various treatments and methods that may help tinnitus go away.
Tinnitus Treatments
The treatment or intervention for tinnitus will greatly depend on the source. The intervention plan will mainly focus on managing the symptoms brought about by tinnitus.
Hearing Aids
Most people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids create a dual benefit of enhancing hearing and masking or covering up the tinnitus. The majority of patients with tinnitus receive partial or complete relief from their tinnitus with the use of hearing aids.
Maskers
Tinnitus maskers are small electronic devices that look like hearing aids and are tuned to generate sound that masks or covers up the tinnitus. They may provide relief from the tinnitus, but will not enhance hearing and may interfere with understanding speech.
Drug Therapy
Some tinnitus sufferers develop anxiety and other strong emotional responses to their tinnitus. Certain medicines may provide relief from these emotional reactions and provide some relief from tinnitus. Other medicines and nutritional supplements have provided relief to some patients.
Neuromonics Tinnitus Therapy
This treatment uses a combination of testing, counseling, and specialized masking to help you effectively manage and gradually reduce your response to tinnitus. This treatment can take six months or more to complete but has the highest rate of success.
Counseling
People with tinnitus may experience anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric problems. You may be referred to a psychiatrist or counselor as needed.
Relaxation Techniques
Learning how to relax is very helpful if the noise in your ears frustrates you. Stress makes tinnitus seem worse. By relaxing, you have a chance to rest and better deal with the sound.
Tinnitus Evaluations in Rye, NY
All tinnitus patients need to undergo an audiometric assessment specifically because the subjective complaint usually correlates poorly with the actual acoustic properties.
Diagnostic testing for tinnitus should include tympanometry, speech discrimination testing, and audiography. An audiogram can serve as a baseline for tinnitus evaluation, guiding medical professionals to the path where more advanced diagnostic testing is needed.
Other Audiologic Measurements for Tinnitus
These additional measurements below may provide some information as to whether the tinnitus can be managed with masking and related sound therapy treatments.
- Pitch masking
- Loudness matching
- Minimum masking level
- Residual inhibition
How can audiologists help with tinnitus?
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders, including tinnitus. They can help patients with tinnitus by:
- Conducting a comprehensive evaluation: This may involve a physical examination of the ear, as well as hearing tests to assess the degree and type of hearing loss.
- Recommending and fitting hearing aids: If hearing loss is established to be present with tinnitus, audiologists can recommend and fit hearing aids to help improve hearing and minimize the perception of tinnitus.
- Providing sound therapy: Audiologists can provide sound therapy to help reduce the severity of tinnitus symptoms. This may involve the use of hearing aids, white noise machines, or smartphone apps that provide external sounds to mask or reduce the perception of tinnitus.
- Providing counseling and education: Audiologists can provide counseling and education on tinnitus, as well as offer guidance on coping strategies, stress reduction techniques, and other methods for managing tinnitus.
- Making a referral for further tests: If the hearing evaluations are all normal, there is enough reason to suspect that an underlying cause of tinnitus might be attributed to another medical condition. An audiologist can refer the patient to an appropriate medical specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
Audiologists and Tinnitus Evaluations in Rye, NY
If you need to see an audiologist for a tinnitus evaluation in Rye, NY, schedule an appointment with Audiology and Speech Solutions.
We provide a wide range of hearing diagnostics and hearing solutions. Contact us today to book an appointment!