Tinnitus

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You Don’t Have To Live With The Ringing In Your Ears

“The constant ringing in my ears is driving me out of my mind!” If this describes what you live with 24/7, then you are experiencing a neurological condition known as tinnitus.

Approximately 9.2 million Canadians, or 24% of the population, experience acute or chronic tinnitus annually.

However, about 7% of these people experience tinnitus that is so severe that it leads to anxiety, depression, strained relationships with family and friends, difficulty concentrating, and/or sleep loss.

Dr. Sarah of Arnold Hearing Centres discussing tinnitus with a young female

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a medical condition that causes someone to perceive or “hear” sounds that are not actually present in their surrounding environment or a “phantom” perception that is generated somewhere along the auditory pathway. Many people experience tinnitus as a ringing in their head or ears, while others experience buzzing, humming, crickets, or similar sounds.

Though the exact cause of tinnitus is not known, many researchers recognize the condition as a neurological disease that is similar to “phantom limb” experienced by amputees.

Possible causes of tinnitus, according to research, include damage to the inner ear (usually associated with hearing loss), a middle ear infection or buildup of fluid in the middle ear, Meniere’s Disease, and earwax buildup. Tinnitus can also be linked to various ototoxic medications, high blood pressure, hyper/hypothyroidism, diabetes, and acoustic neuromas.

Young man consulting a tinnitus expert at Arnold Hearing Centres

Common Ways Of Managing The Ringing In Your Ears

Because of the way tinnitus negatively impacts your overall health and quality of life, finding relief from your condition is among our critical concerns. However, without a definitive cause, there is no definitive cure,
which means there is no one-size-fits-all treatment or program for tinnitus management.

In spite of the vast number of products, services, and dietary practices claiming to cure tinnitus, there are two categories of proven technologies and techniques capable of helping reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life.

Hearing Aids or Masking Devices

Because tinnitus is common in patients with hearing loss, hearing aids are often the best solution, serving the dual role of improving hearing and reducing tinnitus symptoms. Additionally, there are other electronic
devices that generate noise capable of masking or covering up the sounds of your tinnitus to provide relief.

Counselling or Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the only form of counselling that has been thoroughly researched in relation to tinnitus management. Though it does not eliminate tinnitus, CBT works to help reduce the perception of tinnitus symptoms and provides you with the necessary coping techniques to reduce the impact of the condition on your well-being and lifestyle.

Chris Arnold explaining tinnitus solutions to a elderly woman

A Hearing Assessment Is The First Step On Your Journey To Tinnitus Relief

A hearing assessment is the first step to getting a handle on your tinnitus symptoms. During your hearing evaluation, your audiologist or hearing instrument specialist will obtain specific information regarding your condition, how it is affecting your quality of life, any medications, medical conditions, hearing loss, or other factors commonly associated with producing tinnitus symptoms.

At Arnold Hearing Centres, our Personalized Tinnitus Program includes a thorough yet comprehensive case history, a complete hearing evaluation, a tinnitus questionnaire, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory tinnitus assessment, and a discussion of appropriate treatment options.

Additional audiological testing designed to measure the loudness and pitch of your tinnitus is a part of tinnitus evaluation, and in some cases, further testing by an ear, nose and throat doctor (or ENT) is necessary to rule out other suspected medical conditions.

Personalized Tinnitus Assessment
$125

Includes:

  • Complete Hearing Assessment
  • Tinnitus assessment and consultation
  • Tinnitus management action plan
  • Follow-up appointments

 

Schedule a Tinnitus Assessment

If you or a loved one is struggling with the ringing, buzzing, or humming sound often related to tinnitus on a frequent or ongoing basis, the first step to managing the condition and its effect on your quality of life is a hearing assessment.

Complete and submit the following form in order to schedule a hearing assessment so you can begin managing your tinnitus.

Schedule a Tinnitus Assessment

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