Tinnitus Therapy In Swansea
Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking, or hissing sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have Tinnitus (pronounced ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-i-tus). While tinnitus is a fairly common problem, there are many effective methods to treat (or at least reduce the impact of) the condition. Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying problem, the first thing to do is to try to assess what the underlying cause is. A full hearing test can identify hearing loss that may be associated with the tinnitus.
Tinnitus can be associated with assorted conditions that occur within the auditory system. Some of these conditions are: Impacted wax, ear infection, middle ear infection, tumors, otosclerosis, vascular problems (circulation disorders), Ménière’s disease, ototoxic medications (more than 200 medicines can cause tinnitus), noise-induced hearing loss.
What Should I Do If I Have Tinnitus ?
In general, people with mild tinnitus do not require treatment, however, if tinnitus is persistent, distressing, of sudden onset or in one ear only, you should see a hearing professional. Your hearing will be evaluated to determine if a hearing loss is present. Since tinnitus can be associated with a number of auditory conditions, the audiological evaluation can deliver in depth information regarding the underlying cause of the tinnitus and the possible options for treatment.
Can Tinnitus Be Measured?
Tinnitus cannot be objectively measured, the issue is that you hear it, no one else does. We rely on information you provide in describing the tinnitus that you suffer. The hearing care professional will ask you questions such as:
Which ear is involved? Right … left … both?
Is the ringing constant? Do you notice it more at certain times of the day or night?
Can you describe the sound or the ringing?
Does the sound have a pitch to it? High pitch … low pitch?
How loud does it seem? Does it seem loud or soft?
Does the sound change or fluctuate?
Do you notice certain events make the tinnitus worse—such as when drinking caffeinated beverages, when taking particular medicines, or after exposure to noise?
Does the tinnitus affect your sleep … your work … your ability to concentrate?
How annoying is it? Extremely so or not terribly bothersome?
In discussing your answers to these questions, we can also give you information that will increase your understanding of your tinnitus. We believe that knowing the cause of your tinnitus can provide you with some relief instead of having to live with uncertainty about the cause of the condition. When the possible cause of your tinnitus is understood, your stress level (which can make tinnitus worse) is frequently reduced. The information will also allow you to take charge of your condition. You can anticipate, prevent, and change any situations that make your tinnitus worse.
How is tinnitus treated?
The most effective treatment for tinnitus is to eliminate the underlying cause. Very occasionally, tinnitus can be a symptom of a treatable medical condition, medical or surgical treatment may correct the tinnitus. Unfortunately, in most cases, the cause of tinnitus cannot be identified, or medical or surgical treatment is not an option. In these cases, the tinnitus itself may need to be treated. Because tinnitus is often associated with an underlying hearing loss, treatment of that hearing loss may well deliver relief from the symptoms of tinnitus.
- Forms of tinnitus management include:
- Sound Therapy
- Tinnitus maskers
- Biofeedback
- Hypnosis
- Electrical stimulation
- Relaxation therapy
- Counseling
- Habituation therapies
A treatment that is useful and successful for one person may not be appropriate for another.
Will a hearing aid help my tinnitus?
If you have a hearing loss, a hearing aid will both relieve your tinnitus and help you hear better on a day to day basis when worn. We can assist with the selection, fitting, and purchase of the most appropriate hearing device for you, we will also train you to use the aid effectively. A tinnitus masker can also be used in the treatment of tinnitus with no underlying hearing loss.
What is a tinnitus masker?
Tinnitus maskers look like hearing aids and produce sounds that “mask,” or cover up, the tinnitus. The masking sound acts as a distracter and is usually more tolerable than the tinnitus. The characteristics of the tinnitus (pitch, loudness, location, etc.) that you described for the audiologist determine what kind of masking noise might bring relief. If you have a hearing loss as well as tinnitus, the masker and the hearing aid may operate together as one instrument. Like all other treatments for tinnitus, maskers are useful for some, but not all, people. As with a hearing aid, a careful evaluation by an audiologist will help decide whether a tinnitus masker will help you.
Tinnitus Therapy at Hearing Wales
Tinnitus Assessments And Medical Clearance
Because tinnitus can be associated with ear and other anatomical disease, it is important that we ascertain what the underlying causes of your problem are. In most cases we find that tinnitus is caused by an underlying hearing loss. However it is important to find out if your case is not suitable for our treatment, in this case, we would refer you to an appropriate Specialist to rule out any health-related conditions that could be the cause of your tinnitus or could be treated through medical and/or surgical intervention.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
There are many options for treatment with tinnitus dependent on the severity and the underlying cause. as we have said, in many cases, correction of a hearing loss with well fitted hearing aids will reduce or eliminate the tinnitus symptoms. In the cases where this isn’t enough we also prescribe sound therapy. Many modern hearing aid devices from manufacturers such as Widex, Phonak and Oticon to name a few, are combination devices giving amplification and sound therapy.
Different types of noises or chime-like sounds can be used with or without amplification to offer relief from tinnitus. Sound therapy will most often be accompanied by education, counseling, and stress reduction. It may also include professionals from other disciplines (i.e., psychology, dentistry, neurology, etc). This new approach is proving to be very successful and is being used more frequently by the hearing professionals in our office
Are there other devices that can help me?
Sound machines that provide a steady background of comforting noise can be useful at night or in a quiet environment. It has been reported that fish tanks, fans, low-volume music, indoor waterfalls, and so forth can also be very helpful. There are even applications for portable media players and phones that offer a variety of masking sounds that may reduce the annoyance of your tinnitus.
Self-help groups
Tinnitus can be debilitating because it is can be difficult to describe, predict, and manage. Self-help groups are available in many communities across the United Kingdom for sharing information and coping strategies for living with tinnitus. Self-help groups can instill feelings of hope and control, members of the group share strategies they have found successful in dealing with their tinnitus. It can help to be reassured that you do not have a rare disease or serious brain disorder or are not going deaf. With support, people with tinnitus usually find that they can cope with or ignore their tinnitus.
