Hearing noises that aren’t there. Another sleepless night. Distracting noises. Ear pain that won’t go away.
Are these familiar to you?
Before you worry that you might be hearing “phantom noises,” you might be interested in knowing the first signs of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the perception of disturbing noise in one or both ears that does not have an actual external origin. Tinnitus symptoms are typically described as ringing, clicking, buzzing, roaring, thumping, or hissing.
Tinnitus can produce sounds that are intermittent or steady, loud or mild. While the sensation of tinnitus might vary greatly, the effect on sufferers is largely the same – uncomfortable and exhausting.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be tough to comprehend because the cause is as elusive as the remedy. Tinnitus is not a sickness, but rather a sign of a problem with the ear, the auditory nerve, or the regions of the brain that interpret sound.
Tinnitus can be caused by something so simple as a particle of earwax clogging the ear canal. However, there are various potential causes of tinnitus, many of which are still considered to be in the gray areas.
The most common causes of tinnitus are:
- Untreated medical conditions
- Deterioration of hearing caused by aging
- Sudden impact noises
- Exposure to loud sounds over time
- Head and neck injuries
- Medication side effects (called ototoxicity)
Tinnitus greatly varies per individual. One person may feel that tinnitus is bearable and mild, while another may feel greatly disturbed by tinnitus to the point of not being able to sleep and perform normally.
How can tinnitus be managed?
At Santa Clarita Hearing Center, we recognize that living with tinnitus may be a difficult experience, and we strive to develop a treatment plan that will allow you to restore control of your daily life.
Our patients have had success with a wide variety of remedies, including:
- Meditation and relaxation approaches
- Alterations to their diet and lifestyle
- Hearing aids usage
- Using gadgets such as white noise generators to help mask tinnitus noises
Is it possible to get a good sleep with tinnitus?
Make use of sound masking. Playing background noise, such as natural noises, a fan, a heater, white noise, or ambient music, may help you fall asleep by masking the feeling of tinnitus.
Maintain healthy sleeping patterns. Bedtime can be challenging for those who suffer from tinnitus owing to the fear and frustration of not being able to sleep comfortably.
Try to set a bedtime routine to condition your body that it’s time to slow down, relax, and sleep.
As much as possible, try to be in your most comfortable and relaxed state before you sleep. Several cases have been reported that tinnitus can worsen with stress and anxiety, so try your best to feel at ease before bed.
Dealing with tinnitus at home
You may wonder – how can I train my brain to eliminate tinnitus?
If there is something in the environment that sounds like tinnitus, the brain can attach to the sound and may become more relaxed.
Sound therapy can be used in a variety of ways. Turning on a fan, listening to music, or watching television are all common at-home methods to alleviate tinnitus.
Tinnitus Diagnosis and Evaluation in Santa Clarita, CA
Our goal at Santa Clarita Hearing is to collaborate with you to understand how your tinnitus impacts your everyday life and to provide solutions that match your specific needs.
While we cannot guarantee that your tinnitus will be cured, we can educate you on how your symptoms can be lessened and controlled.
Contact us today to schedule a tinnitus evaluation in Santa Clarita, CA.