Tinnitus
Those with persistent tinnitus can experience insomnia, trouble concentrating and memory problems, which can lead to anxiety and even depression
Do you hear the ringing?
Do you hear the ringing?
From faint ringing or buzzing and whistling to constant noise or the occasional discomfort and confusion, tinnitus comes in many forms. But there’s one thing these noises have in common: these sounds do not actually exist—there is no external source, no matter how hard you try to listen for it in your environment. That can be frustrating and confusing, even to the point of discomfort and disruption.
Start Your Tinnitus Treatment
At Hearing Solutions, we’re here to help you hear—clearer and better, without the discomfort and disruption caused by recurring tinnitus. Get answers about the ringing in your ears, and the help you need to ease its effects on your everyday life.
Better conversations and reconnecting with the people you love start here. Book a tinnitus test today, and discover treatments right for you, with sound advice from hearing professionals you can trust.
Tinnitus Is A Lot More Common Than You Think
You are not alone. While it’s unsettling to constantly hear these phantom noises that no one else can seem to, it can be a relief knowing you’re not the only one experiencing it.
Many other people “hear” ringing in their ears. In fact, the Canadian Tinnitus Association estimates that 37% of Canadians—or 9.2 million of the population—experienced tinnitus in the past year alone. And with 7% among them who reported disruptions to sleep, concentration, and their mood, getting the right help makes all the difference in everyday life.
Causes of Tinnitus
If these sounds don’t actually exist, where do they come from? Diagnosing and treating tinnitus starts with identifying the types of sounds you hear, and why you hear them.
Common Causes
In many cases, tinnitus can be accompanied by hearing loss that is often age-related, as well as genetic and environmental. Here are the most common causes of tinnitus:
- Age-related, genetic, and environmental or occupational hearing loss
- Stress, anxiety, depression, or insomnia
- Routine exposure to loud noises and occupational hazards, including active military duty and working in construction sites or with loud music and audio equipment
- Lifestyle habits, such as smoking.
Effects of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be disruptive and confusing, causing even more stress and discomfort in your everyday life. You deserve better hearing health. While seldom instances may be easy to manage, recurring—and worsening—tinnitus can be worrying.
When left untreated, persistent and prolonged tinnitus can worsen insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and memory gaps. These can also lead to worsening anxiety and depression. This is why it’s important to get tested for tinnitus — and get the help you need at the first sign of ringing in your ears.
Is Tinnitus Permanent?
It’s normal to be worried about how long the ringing in your ears will persist—and whether it’s permanent. In most cases, thankfully, it isn’t.
Often, tinnitus induced by exposure to loud noises—such as at a concert—will quickly fade. Keep in mind, though, that routine exposure to environmental and lifestyle risks can cause long-term or permanent tinnitus. In the case of hearing loss-induced tinnitus, interventions such as hearing aids offer relief.
Still, prevention is key. Avoid loud noises where possible, and wear hearing protection like earplugs to counter occupational risks. Set a healthy volume when listening to music or streaming.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: Is There a Connection?
Hearing loss is the leading cause of tinnitus. This happens due to damage to the tiny sensory hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear. Since there is no sound perceived, the brain’s hearing centre compensates and tries to fill in the gaps, interpreting auditory signals that are not actually audible or real. Hearing loss can be age-related or noise-induced, resulting in recurring tinnitus.
Can hearing aids help with my tinnitus?
Because of its ties to hearing loss, one of the most common and effective tinnitus treatments is hearing aids. These restore your ability to hear—clearly and effectively. Modern hearing aids are built with noise control technologies that amplify real, externally audible sounds in your environment. This prevents you from hearing phantom ringing noises, so you only hear what matters.
Tinnitus As a Symptom
Tinnitus isn’t always due to hearing loss or environmental and lifestyle factors. It can be a symptom of an underlying health problem.
When testing your symptoms and learning your medical history, our audiologists can determine whether there is cause for deeper concern. A complete picture of your hearing and overall health allows us to recommend the right tinnitus treatment, and refer you to other health professionals who can address these causes. Together, we can protect your hearing and overall health.
- Obstructions in the middle ear, including earwax build-up
- Damage to the sensory hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear.
- Ear infections
- Head and neck trauma and traumatic brain injuries
- Cardiovascular problems, including heart disease and high blood pressure, resulting in a pulsating rhythm along with your heartbeat
- Sinus pressure and barometric trauma
- Diabetes
- Ménière’s disease
- TMJ disorders and dental problems
- Folic acid deficiency
- Side effects from antibiotics, cancer, and diuretics medications.
Treating Tinnitus
Hearing aids
For tinnitus induced by hearing loss, our hearing healthcare providers recommend modern hearing aids. These relieve ringing and buzzing noises by amplifying real-world sounds—conversations, laughter, music, and other sounds in your environment to reduce or mask “internal” phantom noises.
Hearing devices
Hearables fit directly into the ear canal, much like in-the-ear hearing aids. These pair with smartphone apps that allow you to control how you hear sounds in your environment, and eliminate tinnitus symptoms.
Sound therapy
Using relaxing music or white noise, sound therapy is a tinnitus treatment that desensitizes you to ringing and buzzing noises. Over time, these sounds will no longer be as bothersome and disruptive, essentially retraining the brain to focus on meaningful sounds.
Relaxation and counselling
Along with hearing devices and treatments, our hearing healthcare providers recommend lifestyle management. Counselling, group therapy, and relaxation exercises can help you cope with stress, one of the most common causes of tinnitus.
Do You Have Tinnitus? Book a Test to Find Out
At Hearing Solutions, our hearing health professionals can diagnose your symptoms, recommend treatments, and provide sound advice for managing your tinnitus.
Whether it’s a ringing or buzzing noise, beeping or ticking, whistling and even a rushing river or a roaring freight train, we can provide the right tinnitus treatment. We examine your overall hearing health to determine whether your symptoms are caused by environmental and lifestyle risk factors, or indicate underlying health problems. With the right diagnosis and sound advice, we can help you hear better, and hear what matters.
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