The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

People with tinnitus suffer with noises in their heads or ears that nobody else can hear. They don’t correspond with any outside sound. Tinnitus isn’t a disease by itself. The ringing or noises are a symptom of something else entirely.

What Causes Tinnitus?
The underlying cause of the sounds can be wax in the ear, which creates a plug or fluid in the ear. It could be the result of an ear infection. It could also be the sound of blood rushing through veins in the ear if they’ve become enlarged. Tinnitus can result from the normal aging process and loss of hearing too. When a tinnitus sufferer goes to the doctor, it can be hard to find an underlying cause if there’s no infection or outside sign of the cause.

Psychological Tinnitus
In some sufferers, tinnitus can be psychological. Stress and anxiety can cause common sounds to be amplified. Ringing, whooshing or rushing in the ears can also cause anxiety if the person is already stressed, overworked, fatigued or irritable. Psychological tinnitus can lead to depression in some sufferers.

Screenings and Medical Treatment
Your doctor will need to run some tests in order to rule out ear infections, trauma or other issue with the ear. In some cases, the doctor may want to run a few other tests like a scan of the brain to rule out serious problems.

Once the doctor has checked for serious infections or issues in the ear, brain or nerves around the face, he or she may describe medication. If the person is extremely stressed, the doctor could describe ant-depressant or anxiety medication.

Soothing Sounds or Music
Many psychological tinnitus sufferers avoid a quiet room. It makes the ringing or whooshing seem louder and more worrisome. It can be terribly frustrating, which can increase anxiety and stress. Soothing sounds like ocean waves, forest sounds or other pleasant background noise can be a nice distraction. The sufferer won’t focus on the ringing, and it will be less noticeable. Music or television can be a helpful distraction too. It’s up to each individual to find a distraction that works, especially at night when the noise can distract and make sleep impossible.

Anyone suffering from tinnitus shouldn’t be afraid to admit it’s a nuisance and seek professional help. The sufferer should visit a physician to be sure the underlying cause can’t be fixed. Afterward, seek professional help from a therapist who can offer advice and coping mechanisms.