When we get older, ringing, buzzing, or other noises in one or both of our ears is possibly a sign that we have a medical condition known as “Tinnitus.”  Below is some general information about tinnitus and how hearing aids can often help those suffering from this condition.

What is Tinnitus

Buzzing, roaring, a high-pitched squeal, ringing, humming, and white noise – those are the usual sounds of tinnitus.  It can be present in one or both ears and may be constant or present only periodically.  When it is happening, concentration can be difficult, and it can be hard to hear noises, sounds, or communicate.  You want to live About 15%-20% of people suffer from tinnitus, and it is most common among the elderly. Age-related loss of hearing, injuries to our inner ears, and hearing loss from work-related noise can cause tinnitus.  Treating the underlying causation is one option if the physical damage can be repaired.  Other options are hearing aids that mask, overlay, or reduce the noise.

Types of Tinnitus – Subjective and Objective

If only you are the only one who can hear the sound, then the condition is called subjective tinnitus.  Occasionally, if the sounds are rhythmic or whooshing, often in rhythm with our heartbeat, a doctor may be able to hear it.  This is called objective tinnitus.

When Should You Call Your Doctor?

If the malady is bothersome, resulting in depression or anxiety, call your doctor.  If you develop tinnitus from an upper respiratory infection or a cold, and the tinnitus does not improve after a week, contact your doctor.  If, after getting tinnitus, you experience dizziness and/or loss of hearing, call your doctor immediately.

Hearing Aids to The Rescue for Many Sufferers

Changing how our brains perceive and receive external sounds can often bring relief from the annoyance of tinnitus.  The bottom line is tinnitus is most often directly connected to some form or level of hearing loss.  As we lose our hearing, to whatever degree it occurs, our ears lose some ability to transmit sounds to our brains.   Our clever little brains often work to make up for the hearing loss by creating sounds of their own.  This is known as neuroplastic change, wherein the brain expands itself to compensate for the sounds that it has long been accustomed to hearing. Using a hearing aid provides the opportunity to increase ambient sound volume to mask the tinnitus sounds.  We are less conscious of the internal noise, which helps our brains focus on the external sounds around us.  By amplifying the sounds that our ears normally would be hearing, we stimulate the brain’s auditory wiring pathways with the normative sounds missing due to hearing loss.

Conclusion

Tinnitus interferes with everyday life for thousands of older Americans, prohibiting their ability to live the best life in their golden years.  There is no reason to accept that you suffer from the annoyances of tinnitus, whether it is age-related or not.  We live in a technologically rich world, and solutions are available to us which were not even imaginable not long ago. Our Beltone South hearing aid center has been offering hearing aid services since 1940, providing our customers with state-of-the-art hearing care solutions. From new hearing aids to repairs, we want to play our part in providing a richer, more active lifestyle for you. Sit down with our team of professionals and get tailored solutions for your unique needs. If you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at 888-906-5246 for a free screening.