Tinnitus Specialist

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a common problem that affects people of all ages. Tinnitus refers to sounds in one or both ears that aren’t coming from an external source. The sounds you hear could be:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Hissing
• Roaring
• Clicking
• Humming

Most people with tinnitus have the subjective form, where only they can hear these sounds. Less common is objective tinnitus, where your doctor can also hear the noises. The most common objective form is pulsatile tinnitus. It sounds like a rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sound that might keep time with your heartbeat.

The sounds you hear can vary from a high squeal to a low roar, and you might hear them in one or both ears. Tinnitus is irritating when it’s mild and comes and goes. But it can be highly distressing if it’s severe or present all the time. Tinnitus can be so loud sometimes that it prevents you from correctly hearing external sounds and reduces concentration.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus isn’t a disease; it’s a symptom of an underlying ear or hearing problem like:

• Age-related hearing loss
• Ear injuries
• Blood circulation problems 
• Exposure to loud noise
• Inner ear virus
• Middle ear infection
• Wax impaction
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Certain tumors
• Medication side effects
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Irregular muscle contractions
• Head injuries

Tinnitus can be caused by damage to your inner ear hair cells. These cells are very sensitive to sound waves. Abnormalities in the cells make them produce unusual electrical impulses that travel to your brain, triggering tinnitus.

How is tinnitus treated?

If you’re experiencing tinnitus, book a hearing evaluation with an audiologist at Michigan Avenue Hearing Health. They’ll run tests and refer you for any treatment you need.

The team offers many proven treatments for tinnitus, including:

• Habituation
• Sound therapy
• Stress reduction and relaxation
• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)
• Ear level sound generators
• Hearing aids
• Environment noise generators
• Fractal tone sound generator
• High fidelity ear protection
• Ototoxic medication awareness
• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

Some patients suffering from sound sensitivity can also experience tinnitus. Hyperacusis, where sounds you hear every day seem much louder than they should, can be caused by a single loud noise or exposure to loud noises over a long period. Treatments include hearing protection, sound desensitization, relaxation techniques, and ear massage.

Call Michigan Avenue Hearing Health or Michigan Avenue Primary Care today or book an appointment online to find an effective treatment for your tinnitus.