Hearing Health Clinic

Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as "ringing in the ears," although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant-with single or multiple tones-and its perceived volume can range from subtle to shattering.

How many people have tinnitus?
The American Tinnitus Association estimates that over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. Of these, about 12 million have severe enough tinnitus to seek medical attention. And about two million patients are so seriously debilitated that they cannot function on a "normal," day-to-day basis.

What Causes Tinnitus?
The exact physiological cause or causes of tinnitus are not known. There are, however, several likely sources, all of which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus. These include noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the ear canal, ear or sinus infections, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular disease, certain types of tumors, and head and neck trauma. Certain disorders, such as hypo- or hyperthroidism, lyme disease, fibromyalgia, and throacic outlet syndrome, can also have tinnitus as a symptom. When tinnitus is a symptom of another disorder, treating the disorder can help alleviate the tinnitus.

What treatment is available?
There is no known cure for tinnitus but there are many treatment options available that can reduce tinnitus and lessen the impact it has on a person’s quality of life. Treatments include alternative therapies, amplification (hearing aids), biofeedback, cochlear implants/electrical stimulation, cognitive therapy, drug therapy, sound therapy, and TMJ treatment.

Our office now offers Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment; FDA-cleared in 2003, the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment interacts, interrupts and desensitizes tinnitus disturbance, changing how the brain perceives the tinnitus sounds (i.e., it retrains the brain to stop paying attention to the tinnitus sound, and promotes new neural connections). It is the most comprehensive long-term therapy that targets the neurological processes of tinnitus—auditory, attentional and emotional. For Neuromonics testimonials, please click here.

You will want to talk with your doctor, audiologist, or other healthcare professional to find the best treatment for you. Because tinnitus is so individual, treatments work differently for different people.