Monday, May 2, 2011

A Cure for Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (TIN-a-tus) is commonly described as "ringing in the ears." It is defined as the perception of sound in the head when no external sound is present. In addition to "ringing," head noises have been described as hissing, roaring, whooshing, clicking, pulsing, and whistling.  Ringing and head noises can occur in one ear or both ears, and can be perceived to be occurring inside or outside the ear.  It can accompany hearing loss or exist independent of hearing loss.

A variety of factors including earwax blockage, stress, antiobiotics, and age-related hearing loss can lead to or worsen tinnitus.  While it is a fairly common problem, there are many effective methods to treat or at least reduce the severity of its symptoms.  Investigating its underlying cause, examining possible hearing instruments that "mask" the noise it creates, and counseling are all possible components of a comprehensive treatment plan for managing tinnitus.

While there is no known cure for tinnitus, hearing aids can help manage its symptoms.  However, they are only one component of a comprehensive approach to helping people cope with this condition.

For more information on tinnitus, visit our website.

No comments:

Post a Comment