Tinnitus Symptoms Are Manageable – We Can Help
If you’re experiencing tinnitus, you might feel like it’s all in your head. While that’s technically correct—in most forms of tinnitus, the sound is only audible to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with it on your own. Our providers at Lake Jackson ENT & Med Spa can help you manage your tinnitus to reduce its impact on your daily life.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a ringing noise in one or both ears that might be constant or come and go. It can last anywhere from a few days to years. Ringing is one of the most common sounds, but tinnitus can also manifest as buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing or humming. In extreme cases, it might interfere with your ability to concentrate or lead to anxiety.
What Causes Tinnitus?
The following can potentially lead to tinnitus:
- Consistent exposure to loud noise
- Issues in the middle ear, like infections or vascular tumors
- Ear infection or ear canal blockage
- Medication that damages the middle ear’s nerves, such as ototoxic drugs
- Head or neck injuries
Types of Tinnitus
The most common form of tinnitus is subjective tinnitus or tinnitus that only you can hear. This type of tinnitus often sounds like ringing, buzzing or clicking.
Less frequently diagnosed is pulsatile or objective tinnitus, which sounds like a whooshing or pulsing sound. A practitioner may be able to hear pulsatile tinnitus during an examination.
What Happens During a Tinnitus Evaluation?
Tinnitus is typically diagnosed based on a patient’s symptoms. To determine an underlying cause, our provider will ask what noises are present. Does it sound like clicking, pulsing, low-pitched ringing or high-pitched ringing?
Other common tests include:
- Hearing exam: In a sound-proof room, you will wear headphones connected to a device that sends sounds to one ear at a time. You’ll be asked to press a button or raise your hand whenever you hear a sound.
- Movement: If the tinnitus changes due to certain movements, it might identify another disorder in need of treatment.
- Imaging tests: These might include CT or MRI scans.
- Lab tests: These might include drawing blood.
Ways of Managing Tinnitus
If testing suggests the need for medical intervention to manage an underlying disorder, our providers can help. A majority of tinnitus patients also experience hearing loss. Hearing aids are used to amplify background sounds, which can mask tinnitus.
You Aren’t In this Alone
Tinnitus might seem daunting, but you don’t have to face it yourself. At Lake Jackson ENT & Med Spa, we can help you manage your symptoms. Whether it’s providing you with more information about tinnitus or helping you find acoustic therapy, we’re here to help.
From evaluation to treatment, Lake Jackson ENT & Med Spa is by your side. Schedule your appointment easily with our online scheduler today.