You have a buzzing in your ears and it’s not improving, if anything it’s getting worse. It started off quietly enough, one of those “is it really there” sort of things. But after spending all day at the construction site (for work), you’ve noticed just how loud (and how persistent) that buzzing has become. These sounds can take many forms, such as ringing, buzzing, or any number of sounds. You’re thinking about coming in to see us, but you’re not sure: how is buzzing in the ears treated?
The source of your tinnitus symptoms will substantially determine what treatment will be most suitable for you. But your own tinnitus therapy will share some common threads with others that can help you get ready.
There are a couple of different kinds of tinnitus
Tinnitus is extremely common. The buzzing or ringing (or any number of noises) in your ear can be caused by various underlying problems. That’s why tinnitus is often divided into two categories when it comes to treatment:
- Medical Tinnitus: Inherent medical issues, including ear infections, excessive earwax, a growth, or other medical issues, can be the cause of tinnitus. Dealing with the underlying medical issue will usually be the priority of your medical professional.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is generally reserved for tinnitus caused by hearing damage or hearing loss. Over time, exposure to harmful noise (like the noise at your construction site) can cause persistent, severe, and chronic tinnitus. It’s normally very challenging to manage non-medical tinnitus.
The kind of tinnitus you have, and the root cause of the hearing affliction, will determine the best ways to manage those symptoms.
Treating medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is a result of a root medical ailment, it’s likely that treating your initial illness or disorder will alleviate the ringing in your ears. Here are a few treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is caused by a bacterial ear infection. Once the infection clears up, it’s likely that your hearing will go back to normal.
- Surgery: Doctors might decide to do surgery to get rid of any tumor or growth that could be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be treated with antibiotics. Viral infections, for instance, never respond to antibiotic solutions. Hydrocortisone might be prescribed in these cases to manage other symptoms.
You’ll want to make an appointment to get a consultation so we customize a tinnitus treatment plan, particularly if you’re dealing with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
Typically, medical tinnitus is much easier to diagnose and treat than non-medical tinnitus. There’s usually no cure for non-medical tinnitus (particularly in situations where the tinnitus is a result of hearing damage). Treatments, instead highlight alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Noise-masking devices: Often referred to as “white noise machines,” these devices are designed to supply enough sound to minimize your ability to hear the ringing or buzzing brought on by your tinnitus. These devices can be tuned to generate certain sounds created to offset your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hearing aids: If your tinnitus becomes more prominent as your hearing diminishes, a hearing aid could help you manage the symptoms of both conditions. The tinnitus symptoms will likely seem louder because everything else becomes quieter (due to hearing impairment). A hearing aid can help mask the sound of your tinnitus by raising the volume of everything else.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You can get training that will help you learn to disregard your tinnitus sounds. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a commonly used method designed to help you achieve just that.
- Medications: There are some experimental medications available for treating tinnitus. As an example, tinnitus symptoms can sometimes be decreased by mixtures of anti-anxiety medication and steroids. Still, you’ll want to talk to us before making any decisions about medications.
Find what works
In order to successfully treat your hearing issues you will most likely need to explore several approaches as the exact cause of your tinnitus probably won’t be obvious. Depending on the source of your buzzing or ringing, there might not be a cure for your tinnitus. But there are numerous treatments available. The trick is discovering the one that works for you.