Tinnitus: Discover the Surprising Reasons Behind Your Annoying Ear Ringing

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus (“TIN-a-tus” or “Tin-EYE-tus”) is the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source of sound is present. Tinnitus is commonly described as “ringing in the ears.”

Facts about tinnitus

• 1 in 5 adults have tinnitus
• 50 million people in the United States experience tinnitus
• 2 million of them suffer with more severe ringing of the ears
• #1 service-connected disability for veterans

Common causes of it

• Severe head injury
• Exposure to noise
• Meniere’s disease
• Hearing loss
• Anemia
• Certain medications
• Earwax build-up
• High stress

Tips for dealing with it

• Make sure to seek advice from an Accent ENT physician and Audiologist to help determine cause and possible medical intervention to treat your tinnitus.
• Review medications with your physician to see if they contribute to tinnitus.
• Treat hearing loss with amplification.
• Avoid silence. Background noise will divert the mind. Accessories such as noise generators can help to minimize the perception of the sound.
• Minimize stress.
• Remove the “spotlight” from tinnitus. Focus on other, more important things.
• TMJ and skeletal or muscle issues of the head and neck may contribute. Consider diagnosing and treating these with the appropriate professional.
• Reduce salt, caffeine and alcohol. Dehydration can increase tinnitus.

Precautions against tinnitus

• Avoid prolonged exposure to loud noises. Loud noises can trigger a ringing of the ears.
• Use hearing protection in workplaces or environments which are noisy.
• Use hearing protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs at concerts, loud sporting events, (speedway, drags, hunting, etc).
• Reduce/minimize exposure to daily noises such as lawn mowers, chain saws, air hammers, hair dryers, etc.
• Discuss potential ototoxic medications with your physician and closely monitor your hearing if taking any of these medications.

The doctors at Audiology by Accent have a tremendous amount of experience with the Gainesville community. Their knowledge and experience, in combination with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, allows our doctors to provide excellent quality of care in their respective specialties. Contact today to schedule your appointment. (352) 271-5373 Or Toll Free: (877) 329-9360