Do you have a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears or a sound that just doesn’t go away? Tinnitus affects millions of Americans, and it can even be an early sign of hearing loss. If you’ve been managing tinnitus on your own, here are a few tips that can help.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a buzzing, ringing, whistling, or whirring sound in your ears. It sounds different for everyone, so if your tinnitus sounds different, that’s completely normal. Tinnitus is a phantom sound that only you can hear. It’s not coming from an external source, and it’s all in your head. However, this is a common experience, and around 50 million Americans have experienced tinnitus.
For some, tinnitus can be a high-pitched squeal, while others hear a low-pitched roar. It can be frustrating and stressful since no matter what you try the sound doesn’t go away. If you hear tinnitus in the evening, it can also interfere with your sleep and your overall health and wellbeing.
Check Your Medications
Did you know that some medications can damage your hearing? Certain medications warn that for some people, taking the medication could contribute to hearing loss. Medications can also cause tinnitus. Over-the-counter painkillers and common antibiotics are also on this list. Talk to your doctor about your medications and find out if tinnitus is a side effect of any of your medications. Your doctor may recommend changing your medication or dosage to minimize this side effect.
Reduce Your Stress
If you’re not sleeping well and feeling frustrated by tinnitus, your tinnitus will get worse! Stress and tinnitus are in a cycle, where the more stressed your feel, the louder and more bothersome your tinnitus will seem. Reducing your stress can help you manage tinnitus. Prioritize getting enough sleep and eating well. You may try breathing exercises or other activities to lower your stress and manage tinnitus.
Turn On a White Noise Machine
You’re more likely to hear tinnitus when everything around you is very quiet. Some people manage their tinnitus by turning on the TV, putting on the radio, or using a white noise machine. These sounds can help mask the tinnitus and fade the tinnitus sounds into the background. You’ll be able to get on with your day without worrying about these phantom sounds.
Book a Hearing Test
Tinnitus is often an early sign of hearing loss. Book a hearing test to find out more about your hearing and ask your hearing health specialist about tinnitus. Sometimes tinnitus and hearing loss can be caused by earwax blocking the ear canal, so we’ll also do a visual exam to make sure your ear canal isn’t blocked.
If you do have hearing loss, treating hearing loss can reduce the experience of tinnitus by helping you hear all the sounds around you. And hearing aids can also help you manage tinnitus.
Sound Masking with Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids have advanced tinnitus management programs to help you manage tinnitus. The most common tinnitus management programs use sound therapy to mask the tinnitus sounds. Your hearing health specialist will calibrate the program to match the pitch and volume of your tinnitus, so you’ll get the most relief. Then, you can set the program to play white noise, pink noise, nature sounds, or your own music. When you activate the program, these sounds can mask tinnitus sounds so you stop hearing them. They’ll fade into the background, and you can manage your tinnitus with the press of a button.
Find the Right Hearing Aids
Along with tinnitus management programs, you can find sophisticated modern hearing aids that help you hear more of the sounds around you. Amplifying the sounds you’re missing will also make tinnitus much less noticeable. You’ll be able to focus on speech, enjoy conversations, and hear without using all your energy straining to understand what’s being said.
Visit us today to find out more about our hearing aids. We work with the world’s top manufacturers to bring you the best hearing aids. We have sleek behind-the-ear devices, nearly invisible in-the-canal devices, and everything in between. Find out how hearing aids can help you manage tinnitus and help you hear better than ever before.