Tinnitus Therapy
Tinnitus or a ringing in the ears, is a common symptom that affects millions of people. Approximately 10–15% of the population will experience "ringing in the ear" at some point in their lives. Most tinnitus is benign and self-resolves. Some "ringing in the ear" instances can indicate more serious problems, such as infection, tumor or trauma. There is a wide range of possible causes, but the exact source of many patients’ symptoms is often unknown. Many tinnitus sufferers have hearing loss, and a significant number may have some relief just by wearing hearing aids.
If you begin experiencing tinnitus, it’s important to schedule an appointment with our office to check for a potentially serious underlying condition. Our front office staff is skilled at knowing how to schedule you appropriately.
There are several well-established therapies for patients struggling with severe, chronic tinnitus. The American Tinnitus Association encourages patients to embrace these tools, which can minimize the impact and burden of tinnitus. The primary objective for all currently-available tinnitus treatment options is to lower the perceived burden of tinnitus, allowing the patient to live a more comfortable, unencumbered, and content life.
There is currently no scientifically proven cure for most cases of chronic tinnitus — in particular the vast majority of cases caused by sensorineural hearing loss. The search for a definitive cure is ongoing. At this time, treatment is focused on changing a person’s reaction to tinnitus through use of sound therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and hearing aids.
Washington ENT offers a range of treatment and therapy options to effectively manage your symptoms and provide relief. No two patients and no two tinnitus cases are alike. As such, the "best" treatment option is often contingent on an array of factors unique to each patient. Moreover, successful management of tinnitus may require overlapping layers of treatment.
Our team of otolaryngologists and audiologists work closely to identify and implement a treatment strategy that is best suited to the particular needs of each patient.
For more information, visit the American Tinnitus Association website: www.ata.org