Are you suffering from an occasional or constant ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ear? If so, you may have tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external noise is present. It's a common condition, affecting more than 50 million adults in the United States. Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of things, but is most commonly caused by hearing loss.
Depending on the severity of the condition, tinnitus can be an occasional nuisance or a daily obstacle that severely affects a person's quality of life. In some cases, tinnitus can even lead to depression and anxiety.
If you're suffering from tinnitus, the experts at Hearing Unlimited are here to help. We've been providing unparalleled hearing health care to residents of the Southwestern Pennsylvania area since 1949. With the help of professional hearing testing, we can help you determine the cause of your tinnitus and alleviate your symptoms.
Tinnitus is a common symptom of hearing loss because of the way the ear and brain work together to process sound. As we age, or as a result of conditions, the tiny hairs in the inner ear can become bent and broken.
Not only does this damage affect a person's ability to hear, but it can cause false signals to be sent to the brain, as well. These false signals might be understood as a ringing, buzzing, or humming noise in the ear.
Alternatively, the brain may be filling in signals when none have been sent. When you lose hearing, the auditory cortex of your brain becomes less active. As a result, it takes more effort for your brain to process the sounds you do hear. To make up for the lack of input, the brain starts to fill in the gaps by creating phantom sounds, or tinnitus.
Hearing loss is the most common cause of tinnitus, but there are many other potential causes as well. Tinnitus might be a symptom of an ear injury, Meniere's disease, a tumor, or even something as simple as excess ear wax. If you're experiencing tinnitus, visit the audiologists at Hearing Unlimited for help.
With the help of these devices and expert audiologists like those at Hearing Unlimited, many people are able to find tinnitus relief and improve their quality of life.
Schedule an appointment today with our audiologists to receive the compassionate care you deserve.
A persistent ringing, humming, or buzzing sound in the ear is called tinnitus. Tinnitus is a symptom of hearing loss, and it affects 40% of adults. Of those, 1% - 2% will find the constant ringing to be debilitating, as it can prevent people from concentrating, working, or even sleeping.
Tinnitus is caused by damage or disturbance to the cells in the inner ear. That makes hearing loss, exposure to loud noise , certain medical conditions, and certain medications the most common causes of tinnitus.
When it comes to tinnitus, or persistent ringing in the ears, treatment is most commonly aimed at reducing the severity of the symptoms. While there is no cure for tinnitus or medication for ear ringing, there are ways to manage the condition and make it more bearable.
At Hearing Unlimited, we typically offer hearing aids, cochlear implants, and markers to treat tinnitus. While there is no silver bullet for tinnitus, many times a hearing aid can help to lessen the symptoms.
Hearing Unlimited offers hearing aid services throughout the Pittsburgh area. With locations in Monroeville, Penn Hills, South Hills, Harmaville, North Huntington, and throughout the Pittsburgh area, we’re always nearby. Request an appointment online or schedule with us over the phone today to meet with the top hearing aid doctors in Pittsburgh!