Living with a ringing, buzzing or humming in your ears can feel isolating and frustrating. Tinnitus might be invisible to others, but we understand how it can disrupt your entire day – making it difficult to concentrate, enjoy conversations or find peace when trying to sleep.
You don’t have to manage this challenge alone. At Hearing Health and Wellness Center, our audiologists specialize in personalized tinnitus treatment that addresses your specific symptoms. We work closely with you to develop practical strategies to reduce its impact, combining proven therapeutic techniques with supportive care to help you regain control over your hearing health. Whether your tinnitus is mild or severe, new or long-standing, we have solutions that can make a meaningful difference in your daily life.
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external source is present, often experienced as ringing, buzzing, hissing or whooshing in the ears. It’s not a condition itself, but rather a sign that something may be affecting your hearing system. Some people notice it after being around loud noise, while others may become aware of it during quiet moments, especially at night. It can come and go or feel constant, and the intensity can vary. If you’ve started hearing sounds that others don’t notice, especially if it’s affecting your concentration or sleep, it’s a good idea to talk to an audiologist.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be triggered by a variety of factors, many of which involve some change or stress on the auditory system. One of the most common causes is noise exposure. Being around loud music, machinery, firearms or even wearing headphones at high volume over time can damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, leading to tinnitus. Age-related hearing loss is another frequent contributor, as changes in hearing often make internal sounds more noticeable.
Earwax buildup can also create a blockage that affects how sound travels through the ear, sometimes leading to a sensation of ringing or buzzing. Certain medications, especially some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs and high doses of aspirin, are known to cause tinnitus in some people. While not every cause leads to permanent tinnitus, understanding what’s behind it is key to finding the right support.
Getting Relief for Tinnitus
Tinnitus treatment focuses on reducing the perception and impact of the sound rather than eliminating it completely. One of the most helpful tools for people who also have hearing loss is hearing aids with built-in masking features. These devices not only amplify the sounds you want to hear but can also produce low-level background noise or tones that help cover up the ringing, buzzing or hissing sounds of tinnitus. Many people find that when their hearing is improved, their awareness of tinnitus lessens significantly.
Sound machines are another option, especially useful at night when things are quieter and tinnitus can seem more noticeable. These devices play calming sounds like rainfall, white noise or ocean waves to help distract your brain from the tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a longer-term approach that combines sound therapy with one-on-one counseling. The goal is to help your brain learn to tune out the tinnitus so that it becomes less noticeable over time. This method can be especially helpful for those whose tinnitus causes stress or interferes with daily life. Working with an audiologist can help you decide which combination of treatments may be the best fit for your needs and lifestyle.