If you suffer from a constant ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other noise in your ears, you are among the millions who experience tinnitus. This frustrating condition can range from mild to debilitating, interfering with sleep, concentration, and overall quality of life. While there is no cure, there are several treatments that can help provide relief.
Tinnitus is a condition that causes people to hear noises in their ears. The noises are not caused by an external source, and other people cannot hear them. It affects about 15% to 20% of people. It is especially common in older adults.
One common approach is the use of hearing aids. For those with hearing loss along with tinnitus, properly fitted hearing aids can make external sounds more accessible, reducing the prominence of the internal ringing or buzzing sounds. By better controlling outside noise levels, hearing aids can make the tinnitus less noticeable.
For milder cases of tinnitus, tabletop sound generators may provide the answer, especially for relaxation and sleep. These devices can be programmed to play soothing nature sounds like waves, waterfalls, or rain to help mask the tinnitus noises and lull you into peaceful slumber.
A more advanced treatment is acoustic neural stimulation. This uses a handheld device and headphones to deliver a broadband acoustic signal embedded in music. Over time, this stimulates changes in the neural circuits of the brain, desensitizing the patient to their tinnitus perception.
Counseling is another important component of tinnitus management. Through educational programs, counseling helps patients understand the brain mechanisms behind tinnitus. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also teach coping strategies to change thought patterns and reactions to the condition.
Wearable sound generators, similar to hearing aids, provide masking sounds directly into the ear canal. The level can be adjusted to slightly exceed the volume of the tinnitus sounds, using white noise, tones, or even music to override the internal ringing or buzzing.
In severe cases where tinnitus is accompanied by profound hearing loss, cochlear implants may be an option. These devices bypass damaged portions of the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve with electrical signals. In addition to improving hearing, this neural stimulation can help mask tinnitus sensations.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, a multidisciplinary approach using a combination of the above treatments can significantly improve tinnitus symptoms for many patients. Along with sound therapy, counseling on coping mechanisms empowers patients to better manage the impacts of tinnitus on their daily lives. With patience and the right treatment plan, that persistent ringing can be silenced or at least faded into the background.
At Hear Sarasota Audiology we are dedicated to providing quality hearing healthcare services to our patients. Dr. Massey designed the clinic to combine the best elements of a sound studio, audiology clinic, and research facility to create the most accurate testing and fitting facility in the state. We offer a wide range of services, including hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and rehabilitation services. We are committed to providing our patients with the best possible care and helping them to improve their quality of life.
Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. adult population — over 25 million Americans experience tinnitus.
John Massey, Au.D./CCC-A
Following the completion of his Doctoral Externship, Dr. John Massey came to the Silverstein Institute in 2019. He is proficient in providing a wide array of services including diagnostic hearing testing, vestibular evaluations, electrophysiology, hearing aid evaluations and tinnitus evaluations and treatment.
Dr. Massey received a scholarship to perform research in the field of psychoacoustics and speech perception during an apprenticeship at the Boystown National Research Hospital. With a background as a professional audio engineer and producer, he brings a unique knowledge of acoustics and signal processing to the practice.
“When I decided to start this clinic, I wanted to use my sound engineering background to design a fitting and programming model that exceeds the status quo of reading words out loud in a sterile medical office. Part of the beauty of this clinic is the accuracy we achieve in our fitting and programming methods by performing said testing and programming in acoustically proofed spaces.”
Dr. Massey is passionate about bringing his unique set of skills to the world of audiology in order to achievie the best outcomes for his patients. His goal is for his patients to hear their best and improve the quality of their lives.
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Audiologist, Dr. Massey
3333 Clark Road, Suite 170, Sarasota FL 34231
(941) 312-4274
www.hearsarasota.com