Fifth Avenue Hearing

Tinnitus Treatment

Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears. Roughly 10 percent of the adult population of the United States has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.

Request a Free Tinnitus Consultation

At Fifth Avenue Hearing in New York City, we’re committed to helping you regain the full joy of hearing.

Request a Free Tinnitus Consultation

At Fifth Avenue Hearing in New York City, we’re committed to helping you regain the full joy of hearing.

Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears. Roughly 10 percent of the adult population of the United States has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus affects nearly 50 million Americans, yet tinnitus education is not always readily available. To help you determine if you are struggling with tinnitus and what you may be able to address the issue, our hearing specialists at Fifth Avenue Hearing wanted to set the record straight so you can decide on what you need to do to manage your tinnitus.

Often described as an inescapable ringing sound, tinnitus is a continuous sound which generally maintains the same level of loudness and frequency. While many people experience tinnitus as a ringing sound, others hear static, buzzing, whistling, roaring, and other continuous sounds.

For someone who has not experienced tinnitus, it can be difficult to understand who simply hearing something can cause a problem since most forms of tinnitus can only be heard by the person struggling with tinnitus. However, tinnitus can impact your quality of life, as the continual sound can make sleeping difficult, can overpower your ability to hear other things and other life-altering issues.

Types of Tinnitus

There are multiple types of tinnitus which can be experienced. Knowing what type you have can help you seek the correct treatment to manage your tinnitus. Currently, tinnitus is categorized into four different types:

Limited Tinnitus

Most people will experience limited tinnitus at some point in their lives. This form of tinnitus only lasts for a few minutes up to a couple of days, but will go away with a little time. However, limited tinnitus should be a warning sign to you, as it indicates that something was much too loud for your unprotected ears.

Somatic Tinnitus

A less common form of tinnitus, somatic tinnitus is connected to your sensory system. When the sensory system in some people senses pain in the face, neck, head, arms, or other areas in the upper body, it can act as a trigger for their tinnitus. This type of tinnitus will often go away when the pain has been addressed.

Objective Tinnitus

Objective tinnitus is the only variation which can be heard by someone who is not experiencing the tinnitus.  Objective tinnitus can be a sign that something is very wrong with your health, whether it deals with the physical structures in your ear or other health issues.

Subjective Tinnitus

For most people who experience long-term tinnitus, they are dealing with subjective tinnitus, which can only be heard by the person experiencing the tinnitus. This form of tinnitus has no cure but can be managed with the right treatments.

What Can Cause Tinnitus?

There are three basic ways which tinnitus can become trigger—sound-damage, medication, or health-related issues. Within these groups, there are more variations how tinnitus can be triggered.

1. Noise Induced

The most common trigger for tinnitus and the moist preventable cause of tinnitus is noise induced tinnitus. Noise-induced tinnitus is a type of hearing disorder that is often caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises, such as concerts, machinery, or firearms. It is characterized by a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears, and can be a source of constant frustration and discomfort.

2. Medication Induced

There are types of medications which can both damage your hearing and trigger tinnitus, which are called ototoxic. However, they are not designated as ototoxic, so before you start a new round of medication, you should ask your doctor if the medication is ototoxic, as sometimes the ototoxic effects are permanent.

3. Health Induced

Lastly, your health and your hearing are intrinsically connected, which is why some medical conditions can also trigger tinnitus. Some of the more common medical problems associated with tinnitus are diabetes, hypertension, poor mental health and head or neck injuries.

Who is Likely to Experience Tinnitus?

Everyone can potentially experience tinnitus, especially since noise-induced tinnitus is so common. However, there are certain demographics which are more prone to struggling with tinnitus.

Construction Workers

Construction workers often develop tinnitus due to prolonged exposure to loud machinery, power tools, and heavy equipment on construction sites. The high decibel levels from these sources can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear, leading to persistent ringing or buzzing sounds. Inadequate use of hearing protection increases the risk of tinnitus.

Smokers

Smokers may develop tinnitus due to the negative impact of smoking on the cardiovascular system and blood flow. Nicotine and other toxins in cigarettes can contribute to reduced blood flow to the delicate structures of the inner ear, potentially causing damage to auditory cells and leading to the development of tinnitus.

Senior Adults

Seniors may develop age-related tinnitus due to natural changes in the auditory system. Gradual deterioration of the inner ear’s sensory cells and neural pathways can lead to internal sounds described as ringing or buzzing. Additionally, factors such as cumulative noise exposure  and vascular issues may contribute to age-related tinnitus in seniors.

Musicians

Musicians can develop tinnitus due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds during rehearsals, concerts, or through improper use of audio equipment like headphones. Continuous exposure to high decibel levels damages delicate hair cells in the inner ear, leading to ringing or buzzing sensations. Protective measures like earplugs are recommended.

Effective Tinnitus Treatment Options Available at Fifth Avenue Hearing Center

 

Here at Fifth Avenue Hearing Center, we will do our best to help you manage your tinnitus with hearing aids that have tinnitus support. If your tinnitus is advanced beyond where hearing aids are helpful, our audiologist will be sure to help find a professional who can help you.

 

To see if our audiologist can assist you with your tinnitus,

contact us today for an appointment.

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9 East 62nd Street, #1F
New York, NY 10065

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