Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ears that aren’t caused by an external source. It’s a common condition that can range from mildly annoying to severely disruptive, affecting your ability to concentrate or sleep. At our center, we specialize in diagnosing and managing tinnitus to help you regain control of your quality of life.

Tinnitus can be categorized based on its cause and characteristics:

• Subjective Tinnitus: The most common type, heard only by the individual, often linked to hearing loss or inner ear damage.
• Objective Tinnitus: A rare type that can be heard by a healthcare provider during an exam, often caused by blood flow or muscle issues.
• Pulsatile Tinnitus: Sounds that follow the rhythm of your heartbeat, often related to vascular conditions.
• Tonal, Non-Tonal, or Musical Tinnitus: Variations in the sound type, ranging from steady tones to fluctuating noises or even musical hallucinations.

Identifying the type of tinnitus is key to selecting the right treatment approach.

Tinnitus is characterized by hearing sounds such as:

• Ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whooshing
• Pulsing or rhythmic sounds in time with your heartbeat
• Clicking or popping noises
• Persistent or intermittent sound in one or both ears

These symptoms can vary in intensity and may be accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or sensitivity to loud sounds.

A thorough evaluation is essential to understanding and addressing your tinnitus:

1. Medical History: Discussing your symptoms, triggers, and any history of hearing loss or exposure to loud noises.
2. Hearing Tests: Comprehensive audiological evaluations to assess your hearing and detect any issues with the auditory system.
3. Imaging Studies: MRI or CT scans may be recommended if structural or vascular causes are suspected.
4. Tinnitus Assessment: Using specialized tools to evaluate the pitch, volume, and nature of the sounds you hear.
5. Balance and Neurological Tests: To rule out related conditions like vestibular disorders.

This process helps us pinpoint the cause of your tinnitus and develop a personalized plan.

While there’s no universal cure for tinnitus, effective management strategies can significantly reduce its impact:

• Sound Therapy: Using white noise machines or hearing aids with masking features to minimize tinnitus perception.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helping you manage the emotional impact of tinnitus through relaxation techniques and stress management.
• Medications: In some cases, medications can help reduce symptoms or address related anxiety or depression.
• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): A combination of sound therapy and counseling to retrain your brain’s response to tinnitus.
• Lifestyle Changes: Reducing caffeine, alcohol, or noise exposure to help mitigate symptoms.

Our team works closely with you to find the right combination of treatments, empowering you to live more comfortably with tinnitus.