Are you finding yourself troubled by ringing, buzzing or whooshing noises without any discernible external cause? If so, you may be dealing with tinnitus, an issue that affects approximately one in every 10 Americans. Tinnitus can occur intermittently or persistently, with both forms presenting challenges to your overall well-being and daily functioning. At Ear Specialists of Omaha, we recognize the profound impact that tinnitus can have on your quality of life. That’s why we’re committed to providing comprehensive support and a range of effective solutions to help you alleviate the discomfort and disruption caused by these intrusive sounds.

Understanding Tinnitus

Living with tinnitus presents challenges that extend beyond the physical. The persistent noise in one or both ears can disrupt daily activities and thoughts. This causes individuals to hear ringing, whistling, whooshing, knocking and more at random intervals throughout the day. Seeking help from an audiologist is crucial, as they can offer both compassion and expertise to understand the root cause of the issue.

This is the key to creating a personalized treatment plan that prioritizes the management of tinnitus. Each individual requires a unique approach to manage their tinnitus effectively. In moments of silence, the noise can seem even louder, mimicking an annoying song on loop. It’s important to recognize that no two tinnitus patients are alike, even if they experience similar symptoms.

Treatment Options

Options for treatment will depend on the underlying cause and the severity of the symptoms. Tinnitus is a complex problem that can hide a much more serious health concern. On the other hand, it can also be temporary due to earwax blockage. No matter the severity, audiologist have to do a thorough evaluation before recommending treatment.

Sound therapy: A common approach that has seen much success is sound therapy. The external noise masks the side effects of tinnitus without being too overpowering. Even a simple white noise machine has shown to be successful in restoring concentration habits.
Hearing aids: Hearing aids with masking features offer a valuable solution for individuals struggling with tinnitus. These specialized hearing aids work by generating gentle background noise, known as masking, which helps to drown out or reduce the perception of tinnitus sounds. By providing a more balanced auditory experience, hearing aids with masking features can effectively alleviate the prominence of tinnitus
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): TRT combines sound therapy with counseling techniques to help individuals habituate to the perception of tinnitus and reduce its impact on their daily lives. The sound therapy component involves the use of specialized devices, like hearing aids or sound generators, to deliver low-level background noise that helps mask or distract from the tinnitus sounds. Meanwhile, counseling sessions focus on educating individuals about tinnitus and teaching coping strategies to reduce stress and anxiety associated with the condition.

While there is currently no cure for tinnitus, these treatments have been incredibly successful in helping individuals combat the unwanted effects. If you’d like to learn how you can quiet the buzzing, give our team a call today and we can identify the causes behind your tinnitus symptoms.