Do you hear ringing in your ears? If so, it could be tinnitus.
The symptoms of tinnitus are usually a constant or intermittent buzzing, hissing, or ringing sound in the ears.
This never-ending sound can feel impossible to escape. It can be maddening for those with severe cases. Tinnitus has the potential to make day-to-day activities more challenging.
In most cases, your physician will diagnose you with tinnitus solely based on the symptoms you are experiencing. However, what kind of treatment is required for someone who has tinnitus?
This article will explore how to get rid of tinnitus and give a plain-English overview of this common condition. So let’s get into it!
How To Get Rid Of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be alleviated in some cases by treating the condition causing it.
First, your doctor asks you questions about your medical history. Next, they conduct an exam of your ears, head, and neck to determine the cause of your tinnitus.
As a result, your primary care physician may be able to alleviate your symptoms by treating the condition that is causing them.
With that being said, the root cause cannot necessarily be easily identified directly in most cases.
In addition to treating your symptoms, your doctor will attempt to determine whether or not your tinnitus is the result of another health problem that is more fundamental.
Potential Causes Behind Tinnitus
For instance, earwax can either cause tinnitus or make the condition worse. So, symptoms can be alleviated by cleaning out any buildup of earwax that may be present.
Treating a condition that affects the blood vessels is another potential method for tinnitus relief. To treat the underlying conditions of the blood vessels, taking medication, having surgery, or undergoing some other type of treatment may be necessary.
Some medications have been known to cause tinnitus in certain patients. Suppose the medication you are taking is identified as the culprit behind your tinnitus.
In that case, your physician may suggest that you stop taking it or reduce the amount you are taking. Sometimes they’ll recommend you switch to a different medication.
Treatment Options for Tinnitus
Although tinnitus is a condition that frequently cannot be cured, some treatments can help alleviate your symptoms. Your physician might recommend using an electronic device to help reduce the volume of the noise, such as hearing aids, or sound-masking devices.
Hearing Aids and Sound-Masking Devices
It is possible that wearing hearing aids will help improve your tinnitus symptoms if the condition is caused by hearing loss due to age or exposure to loud noise.
Tinnitus sufferers may find relief from their condition by using sound-masking devices, which emit a soothing external noise to compete with the ringing in their ears.
There is a wide variety of this kind of technology available, ranging from sound machines that sit on tables to miniature gadgets put in people’s ears.
Other Options for Living with Tinnitus
When there is no known way to get rid of tinnitus, your best option may be to learn to live with it.
Learning to habituate is an important skill to acquire if you experience tinnitus regularly.
Some people with tinnitus believe that one of the most effective ways to find relief is to train themselves to ignore or become accustomed to ringing in their ears.
It is possible to learn to habituate in various ways, but the most important thing is to find a way to break the stress cycle that kicks in whenever your tinnitus is acting up.
If you do experience hearing loss or tinnitus, it’s highly recommended you get checked out by an audiologist.