Ringing noises in your ears can cause headaches and affect your concentration. Although age is a risk factor for tinnitus, certain lifestyle habits like overexposure to loud noises, tobacco use, and cardiovascular problems can increase the risk of developing tinnitus.

How can you identify and treat tinnitus?

This article discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatment of tinnitus. Kindly follow through for more information.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus occurs when you have ringing or noises in one or both of your ears. Usually, these noises are not external sounds, and other people can’t hear them. 

Age, injury, or problems with the circulatory system cause tinnitus; it is prevalent in older adults.

Causes Of Tinnitus

Hearing loss due to age, ear infections, and injury to the head or neck can cause tinnitus. Also, the use of medications like NSAIDs, antidepressants, diuretics, and antimalarial may cause tinnitus.

Symptoms Of Tinnitus

Apart from the ringing in the ears, tinnitus can also cause other noises, including clicking, humming, hissing, and buzzing. The pitch of tinnitus noises varies from high to low, and sometimes the noises can be so loud that they affect your concentration or prevent you from hearing external sounds. 

Sometimes, the ringing noises may come and go, or they may be present all the time. Without proper treatment, tinnitus can cause stress, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. In addition, tinnitus can cause headaches and also lead to concentration and memory loss.

Are Tinnitus Treatment Methods Effective?

Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, several treatment methods significantly reduce the effects of tinnitus. It is advisable to visit a doctor for diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan for tinnitus. 

How Can You Relieve Tinnitus?

The treatment method for tinnitus depends on its underlying cause. Some ways of relieving tinnitus include;

1. Ear wax removal: doctors can remove ear wax blockage to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. Usually, the doctor can either suction or gently flush out the ear wax with warm water. In case of an ear infection, doctors prescribe ear drops containing hydrocortisone.

2. Hearing aids: Age-related or noise-induced tinnitus requires hearing aids to relieve their symptoms

3. Masking devices: these devices are similar to hearing aids. However, masking devices produce continuous, low-level, white noise that can suppress tinnitus symptoms. The sound these masking devices make is more pleasant than the noise produced by tinnitus.

4. Changing medications: Certain medications cause tinnitus. In this case, your doctor will recommend stopping or reducing the medication or instead switch you to a new drug.

5. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): TRT uses sound masking and counseling by a professional to reduce tinnitus symptoms. During TRT, patients wear a device in their ears to mask out tinnitus symptoms. At the same time, patients receive counseling.

6. Sound therapy: This tinnitus treatment method is also known as acoustic therapy. Sound therapy makes ringing in the ears less noticeable. Although sound therapy doesn’t cure tinnitus, it makes the condition easier to live with.

Sound therapy involves using devices that make quiet background noise. Doctors can create customized sound devices that place sounds at frequencies and tones ideal for your tinnitus condition.

Prevention of Tinnitus

You can prevent tinnitus by limiting your exposure to loud noises, especially from heavy equipment. Also, it is advisable always to turn down volumes of amplified music when you’re not using ear protection. Also, limit alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine use. Furthermore, exercising regularly, eating right, and taking care of your cardiovascular health is essential in preventing tinnitus.

Conclusion

Tinnitus is a condition where you have constant ringing noises in your ears. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, treatment methods like ear wax removal, masking devices, hearing aids, and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy can significantly reduce the severity of Tinnitus symptoms.