We called the tinnitus hotline the other day, and it just kept ringing!
All jokes aside, tinnitus is a serious condition that affects over 50 million Americans. When the perception of sound is there without any external source, it can be more than just annoying; it can seriously affect your quality of life. For about one in five people with tinnitus, living with it is a distressing, negative experience that can have a major impact on their functional health status. The majority of cases that are discovered are subjective; that is, only the patient can hear the noise. Luckily, the causes are well documented and several options exist to help set you on the road to recovery from this terror in your ears.
Tinnitus is and of itself not a disease, but rather a symptom pointing to other issues. You might hear it as a low roar, or maybe a high pitched squeal or whine that rises in your ears intermittently or, for some, constantly. To truly determine what is causing your tinnitus, it is important to have a thorough evaluation performed by your otolaryngologist (ENT) and audiologist.
You can protect yourself from tinnitus caused by inner ear issues in most cases. For example, shield your ears from extremely loud noises that have the potential to damage your hearing. Dr. Jeffrey Faulkner, Connally Memorial Medical Center’s ENT specialist offers one solution:
Since my deployment to Afghanistan, I have been a big fan of noise canceling headphones. The headphones can amplify voices but cancel out any sound over 90 decibels, which is very helpful on the firing range or when hunting. Hearing loss is associated with old age and that stigma often prevents people from getting the help they need from hearing aids. Protect your hearing while you are young.
With so many causes of tinnitus, a full examination from your ENT physician is a must. They have the knowledge and ability to find the reason behind this irritating, persistent noise and, if you catch tinnitus during the “new onset” period (less than six months), there is a good chance they will be able to help it to improve over time. So, protect your hearing and if you start to hear a ringing in your ears, get to your physician as soon as you can. The earlier tinnitus is caught, the better the chance of improvement.
If you have any Ear, Nose and Throat questions or concerns, Dr. Faulkner can be reached at (830) 393-2140.
Dr. Faulkner sees patients of all ages at his office in Floresville, Texas.
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