Can Hearing Aids Help Tinnitus?
Posted on: 8 January 2019
If you're dealing with strange ringing or clicking sounds in your ear, then you may have tinnitus. While many people experience an occasional ringing in the ears now and then, for most people it doesn't last long. Long-term tinnitus may be a sign of a problem and could be related to hearing loss. However, there is relief from this condition. Here are some things you should know about tinnitus and how hearing aids may be able to help.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the name given to the loud ringing, clicking, and buzzing noises that many people hear which seem to have no external cause. The noises can range from soft to very loud and are often most noticeable in quiet situations. Most of the time, this condition is temporary, but in some people, it can become chronic or nearly constant.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is often caused by a physical problem inside the ears such as from damage caused by excessive noise, medications, or disease. High caffeine or nicotine consumption can increase the chance of tinnitus as well as migraines and cardiovascular issues. Earwax and jaw problems can also cause problems with ringing in the ears. The exact cause can only be determined by an examination.
How Does Tinnitus Affect Hearing?
Tinnitus by itself does not cause hearing loss, but it could be a symptom of ear damage which could lead to hearing loss. If your tinnitus is especially loud, then the chances are that your normal hearing has diminished. In the very least, the loud buzzing or ringing is very distracting and may make it harder to follow conversations or hear things in the environment.
How Can Hearing Aids Help?
Hearing aids may help reduce or relieve your tinnitus in a couple of ways. One way is that they can amplify background noises so that the ringing or buzzing appears diminished compared to other noises. Also, there are hearing aids that create noises, such as ocean sounds or white noise, that distract your brain from focusing on the tinnitus. While these don't completely cure the problem, they can make your life more comfortable.
Fortunately, there are several options available that can help alleviate your tinnitus and even restore your hearing loss if you have any. However, it's important that you have your condition thoroughly checked out and get an expert to make custom-made hearing aids just for you. In some cases, you may only need a hearing aid temporarily until the condition causing your tinnitus is cured. If you're having problems with tinnitus or any type of hearing loss, then contact an office like County Hearing And Balance for an appointment.
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