Learn More About the Causes of Ringing in Ears in Fort Wayne, IN
When there’s no external sound present, and you hear ringing in your ears, it’s referred to as tinnitus. At Lowe Audiology, we understand how frustrating the symptoms of tinnitus can be for patients to deal with day in and day out. The ringing sound people hear is usually caused by damage to the auditory nerve of their inner ear. While many patients describe it as ringing, others say it sounds like the ocean or a buzzing, hissing, or whooshing sound. Tinnitus can affect one or both ears, be constant or occasional, and be soft or loud, depending on the severity of the condition. It’s typically more noticeable at night or in quiet areas.
Below, the hearing experts at Lowe Audiology explain why some people hear a ringing sound in their ears, how to find relief, and how to prevent hearing loss in the future. Our clinical teams offer comprehensive hearing care services, from tinnitus testing and treatment to custom hearing protection for patients in Fort Wayne, IN and the surrounding areas. Contact our hearing care providers today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
What Causes Ringing in Your Ears?
When a person hears ringing in their ears, it’s almost always a side effect of hearing loss or an early indication of the condition. Your brain works hard to make sense of the world around you by processing various information your ears receive. It helps you focus on the most relevant sounds, filter unwanted noise, and distinguish background sounds from what you actually want or need to hear. Tinnitus is an unwanted consequence of your brain processing less sound due to hearing loss.
When the brain’s auditory cortex is bored because there are fewer sounds to process, it gets bored and starts looking for other sounds to interpret. With hearing loss, the input to your brain is changed, so it begins to misinterpret the present sounds.
How Do You Stop the Ringing in Your Ears?
Addressing your hearing loss symptoms with an audiologist or trained hearing care provider is the first step in finding relief for your tinnitus. A comprehensive hearing exam will determine your type and degree of hearing loss, allowing your hearing care provider to develop an individualized treatment plan for your condition. If you have hearing loss and worsening tinnitus, effective treatment options are available.
Treating the Symptoms of Tinnitus
When treating tinnitus, the provider aims to activate and condition a patient’s auditory cortex to listen to real sounds and train it to filter out unwanted noise. The tinnitus isn’t removed, but your brain’s attention to it is mainly eliminated by listening to masking sounds, such as rain, the beach, or a waterfall. These types of sounds keep your brain busy, reducing the likelihood of fixating on the ringing.
In some cases, a patient’s tinnitus continues to progress or worsen, encouraging some hearing care providers to consider medication for the condition. In rare cases, tinnitus can be a side effect of a medical condition other than hearing loss, so it’s essential to address your symptoms as soon as possible.
When to Get Help for Your Tinnitus
All symptoms of hearing loss should be addressed with a hearing care provider, whether you schedule a comprehensive exam or one-on-one consultation. Untreated hearing loss is connected to a wide range of health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation, among others. You should seek immediate medical attention for tinnitus when:
- The ringing in your ears persists for several weeks
- You feel dizzy or have trouble keeping your balance
- The ringing is affecting your daily life
- You experience sudden onset hearing loss
- You hear your heartbeat (pulsatile tinnitus)
Get Relief for Your Tinnitus Today
You don’t have to live with the debilitating symptoms of tinnitus when the hearing care providers at Lowe Audiology have years of experience and expertise in finding relief for patients in Fort Wayne, IN, and the surrounding areas. Our clinical teams proudly offer all the services you need under one roof, from tinnitus testing and treatment to professional hearing aid fittings. We have years of experience serving patients throughout the region. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive hearing care services, or schedule an appointment onlineto get started.
