The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.

If you are someone who has suffered with tinnitus, you know all too well how irritating it can be. Most people describe tinnitus as a ringing sound heard in the ears, but other sounds such as a roaring or rushing sound that is like what you may hear at the ocean, clicking, hissing, or even unclear voices can be heard. These sounds are heard when there are no external factors around to produce them.

Tinnitus can be difficult to diagnose. Many people suffer for years before seeking help, and even then, diagnosis can be difficult. A sufferer will make an appointment with his/her healthcare provider, have a physical exam that will include the examiner looking at the ears, but finding nothing abnormal. That person may receive medication therapy. Of course the medication will not be effective because it is a medicine that is not intended for tinnitus. So, the sufferer is left with continued struggling and frustration. It is very difficult to get others who do not know what it is like to hear sounds when no external factors are around to make those sounds.

Oftentimes, sufferers are left feeling alone, left out, and misunderstood. Well-meaning healthcare professionals have on many occasions mistaken a person who suffers from tinnitus as being depressed or anxious and prescribed antidepressants, which can actually worsen tinnitus. This misdiagnosis and medication error can happen for those who deal with debilitating tinnitus.

What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be caused by a number of health conditions, however, in many instances a direct cause may not be found.
• Age-related hearing loss.
• Loud noises.
• Structural changes to the bone in the middle ear.
• Earwax buildup.
• Meniere’s disease.
• Temporomandibular joint disorder.
• Blood vessel problems.

White Noise For Tinnitus Treatment
White noise is an effective treatment for tinnitus. Though it serves to help lessen the troublesome symptoms, white noise for tinnitus is not a cure for tinnitus. White noise is best described as the complete spectrum of sounds heard by human ears combined together for a continuous sound. Think of white noise as the sound that is produced by static or the sound that your television makes when a station is off.

White noise is also referred to as sound therapy. This form of treatment for tinnitus creates a mask against the agitating sounds that are produced when an attack occurs, thereby reducing the perception of background noises. Devices such as MP3 players, CD players, and speakers in the bedroom placed under your pillows to help you sleep more soundly.

There are many on-line sites and application software vendors who offer white noise therapy for tinnitus. However, it is highly recommended that you see a qualified audiologist. An audiologist is a healthcare professional who specializes in identifying, diagnosing, and treating disorders of the auditory and vestibular parts of the ear. Your audiologist will determine the proper frequency for your tinnitus and program your generator for your specific needs.

If you or someone close to you suffers from ringing in the ears or other auditory disturbances, white noise for tinnitus has been shown to be a very effective treatment.