What can I do about this constant ringing in my ears?

By: Margaret Christiansen, Au.D.

Tinnitus is described as a ringing or buzzing sound heard in one’s ears or head.  It is a common auditory condition affecting about 50 million Americans and can occur for many different reasons.  There are a wide range of causes for tinnitus ranging from something simple like wax in the ears to something more complex like some medical conditions. Because of the variability in causes of tinnitus, it is always a good idea to have a medical evaluation to rule out medical concerns as a cause for your ringing.

Peoples reactions to tinnitus vary as greatly as the range of causes.  The majority of individuals who have tinnitus view it as a mild problem they can learn to “ignore”.  For others, tinnitus can be a severe and disturbing problem. 

Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus but there are treatment options that can provide relief. Often something as simple as avoiding complete quite can provide relief.  Integrating low level noise into your everyday environment can be very beneficial in the reducing of the annoyance of tinnitus.  Sounds like a table top fan, soft music or nature sounds can be helpful to add into your environment.  If hearing loss is present, the addition of hearing aids often provides some relief. The addition of sounds to your environment helps to partially mask tinnitus.

For some people, simple lifestyle changes can impact tinnitus.  Small changes like reducing caffeine and sodium and reducing stress can sometimes have a positive effect on tinnitus.  Other times over the counter or prescription medications may be contributing to tinnitus. 

If tinnitus continues to be problematic, a diagnostic hearing test and tinnitus evaluation can shed further light on the problem and a customized solution can be developed. If you’re struggling with tinnitus, there is help!  Consult with your audiologist for more information!