The buzzing in your ear keeps getting worse. At first, you could barely notice it. But after being at the construction site all day (for work), you’ve realized just how noisy (and how relentless) that buzzing has become. Sometimes, it sounds like ringing or other noises. You’re considering coming in to see us, but you’re wondering: how is buzzing in the ears treated?
The origin of your tinnitus symptoms will substantially determine what treatment will be most appropriate for you. But there are certain common threads that can help you get ready for your own tinnitus therapy.
What type of tinnitus do you have?
Tinnitus is not unusual. There can be a number of causes for the ringing (or whatever tinnitus noises you’re hearing). So when it comes to treatment, tinnitus is normally divided into one of two categories:
- Medical Tinnitus: Some tinnitus symptoms are caused by an underlying medical problem, such as an ear infection, excessive earwax, or a growth, among other conditions. Medical providers will usually attempt to treat the root problem as their primary priority.
- Non-Medical Tinnitus: “Non-medical” nomenclature is generally reserved for tinnitus caused by hearing damage or hearing impairment. Significant, persistent, and chronic tinnitus can be the outcome of hearing damage related to long term exposure to loud noise (like at your construction site). It’s normally very challenging to treat non-medical tinnitus.
The best way to manage your symptoms will be determined by the root cause of your hearing issue and the kind of tinnitus you have.
Treating medical tinnitus
If your tinnitus is caused by a root medical ailment, it’s likely that managing your initial illness or ailment will alleviate the ringing in your ears. Here are some treatments for medical tinnitus:
- Surgery: Doctors might decide to perform surgery to get rid of any tumor or growth that might be causing your tinnitus symptoms.
- Hydrocortisone: Not all infections can be addressed with antibiotics. For example, antibiotics never work on viral infections. In these cases, your doctor might prescribe hydrocortisone to help you manage other symptoms.
- Antibiotics: Your doctor might prescribe you with antibiotics if your tinnitus is related to a bacterial ear infection. Once the infection clears up, it’s likely that your hearing will return to normal.
You’ll want to schedule an appointment to get a consultation so we personalize a tinnitus treatment plan, especially if you’re dealing with medical tinnitus.
Non-medical tinnitus treatments
The causes of non-medical tinnitus are often much harder to identify and treat than is typically the case with medical tinnitus. Non-medical tinnitus has no cure especially if it’s related to hearing impairment. Treatments, instead focus on alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life.
- Noise-masking devices: Sometimes called “white noise machines,” these devices are designed to supply enough sound to decrease your ability to hear the buzzing or ringing brought on by your tinnitus. Certain sounds can be programmed into these devices depending on what noises your tinnitus is creating.
- Hearing aids: A hearing aid can help if your tinnitus is getting worse as your hearing gets worse. When you are dealing with hearing loss everything externally becomes quieter and that can make your tinnitus sounds seem louder. A hearing aid can help hide the sound of your tinnitus by amping up the volume of everything else.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In some instances, you can be trained to ignore the sounds of your tinnitus. This widely used method has helped many people do just that.
- Medications: There are some experimental medicines available for dealing with tinnitus. For instance, steroids and anti-anxiety medication mixtures can sometimes help minimize tinnitus symptoms. However, you’ll want to talk to us before making any decisions about medications.
Find what works
For the majority of us, it won’t be completely clear what’s causing our tinnitus, so it’s likely you’ll have to try multiple strategies in order to effectively treat your own hearing problems. Depending on the source of your ringing or buzzing, there may not be a cure for your tinnitus. But there are many treatments available. Finding the right one for you is the trick.