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What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a ringing in the ears. This common condition affects nearly 36 million Americans. Tinnitus may come and go, or may be constant. It can vary in pitch and you may hear it in one or both ears.
What causes tinnitus?
Most tinnitus comes from damage to the hearing nerve endings in the inner ear and may be caused by:
- Aging
- Noise exposure
- Allergies
- High or low blood pressure
- Injury
- Medications
. . . and a variety of other causes.
What can help me cope with tinnitus?
- Concentration and relaxation exercises - These can help to control muscle groups and circulation throughout the body. The increased relaxation and circulation achieved by these exercises can reduce the intensity of tinnitus in some patients.
- Masking - Tinnitus is usually more bothersome in quiet surroundings. A competing sound at a constant low level may mask the tinnitus and make it less noticeable.
- Hearing Aids - If you have a hearing loss, hearing aids may reduce head noise while you are wearing them and sometimes cause tinnitus to go away temporarily.
- Tinnitus maskers can be combined with hearing aids - They emit a competitive, but pleasant sound that can distract you from head noise. Some people find that a tinnitus masker may even suppress the head noise for several hours after it is used, but this is not true for all users.
