Ringing in the Ears? Understanding Tinnitus

For many, there are no sounds of silence.  Instead, even the quietest of moments, such as sleep, can be filled with buzzing, humming or ringing sounds.  This unfortunate condition is called tinnitus and, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, it has affected nearly 25 million Americans to date.   Presently, no treatments are available to cure this condition however new tinnitus hearing aid technolgy is available through Hearing Plus LLC.

Tinnitus is primarily caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises but also can stem from aging, head injuries or side effects from medications.  Tinnitus is also often similiar to phatom pain. For many of those afflicted, the impacts can be grave as the perpetual ringing can cause difficulties in concentration and sleeping.  While there are no curable options, different treatments can be used to help ease the suffering from the condition or help reduce the degree to which it is prevalent.   These treatments include counseling to help in coping with the effects of tinnitus, sound therapy using subtle background noises to lessen the effects and hearing aids, in some cases, have been able to help provide relief though amplification of other sounds.

If you or someone you know suffers from ringing in the ears, we want to help them evaluate these options to possibly lessen the effects of tinnitus.  We can readily supply more information or schedule a comprehensive hearing evaluation and consultation.  Simply go to our Contact Us page to submit your information and we will be in touch within one business day.

Dr. Patricia Larson Shields AuD FAAA MA CCC SP/L