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.

According to the latest figures, one out of every five Americans suffers from tinnitus, better known as a ringing in the ears. A condition that can become debilitating over time, it can render a person incapable of holding a job, going to school, or enjoying many everyday activities. However, because each case of tinnitus varies from person to person, the sound of tinnitus can be vastly different as well. Whether the condition was caused by noise encountered while on the job, through years of listening to loud music, or other ways, there are not only many different types of sound of tinnitus, but also many different reasons for why those sounds vary among individuals.

Why Do Tinnitus Sounds Differ Among Individuals?
To understand why the sound of tinnitus differs among sufferers, it’s important to understand what causes tinnitus. Common sources include:

• Earwax buildup
• Changes to ear bone
• Various types of ototoxic medications
• Hearing loss

Regardless of the source, the result is an altering of neurological activity within a person’s brain. When this happens, neural circuits fail to receive proper signals, becoming hyperactive. As a result, the brain cannot distinguish between different types of sound, leading to various sounds merging together, thus creating many different sounds that can interfere with a person’s normal way of living.

Various Types of Tinnitus Sounds
As stated earlier, no two cases of tinnitus are the same, resulting in each person interpreting the sounds they hear in a different fashion. While there are many different sounds included in the group, some of the most common are:

• Hissing
• Roaring
• Crickets chirping
• Ocean waves
• Buzzing
• Clicking
• Pulsing
• Dial Tones
• Screeching
• Static

Whether a person hears only one of these sounds or a combination of them, the day-to-day activities of the person can be interrupted or come to a halt altogether. Because of this, it’s crucial to seek treatment as soon as possible.

How Tinnitus Sounds are Treated
Since there are so many different types of tinnitus sounds, audiologists must customize treatment options to fit the patient. Along with a general hearing exam, tinnitus patients also undergo a customized tinnitus evaluation that can lead to various types of treatment, including:

• Hearing aids
• Sound therapy
• Retraining therapy using fractal tone technology
• Relaxation therapy
• Counseling
• Antidepressant medications

By getting a customized evaluation as soon as symptoms begin to appear, a tinnitus patient can have a much greater chance of gaining much-needed relief.