Ogden Clinic -
Audiology

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is another name for "ringing in the ears" or "head noise". First of all, Tinnitus does not necessarily indicate a hearing loss. There are different types of tinnitus. It can be only heard by the tinnitus sufferer, or can be heard from outside. It can be sporadic to constant, mild to loud, but the level of tinnitus does not necessarily indicate a greater problem.

The ear is an extremely sensitive organ and is directly associated with the nervous system. Anxiety, muscle spasms, blood vessels in the ear, ear wax or other obstructions, swelling, allergies, infections, and injury are some of the causes of tinnitus. An examination may reveal a cause that can be treated, but in some cases there is no treatment to eliminate tinnitus.

There are things you can do to decrease or minimize tinnitus. Avoid anxiety and chemical stimulants like nicotine or coffee. Get enough rest. Biofeedback training can be helpful. If there is not physical cause that can be fixed, try to accept the tinnitus. If the tinnitus keeps you from sleeping, try masking it with white noise. You can try an alarm clock or other homemade noisemaker, or you can get a white noise maker that most closely matches the pitch of the tinnitus, to mask it best. Sleep-a-tone is a device available through your hearing aid dealer. It can also be helpful to sleep with the head more elevated, which reduces congestion. You may want to talk to your doctor about using sedatives for temporary relief.

For more medical information about Tinnitus, visit the American Tinnitus Association or the Mayo clinic.