5 FAQS About Tinnitus

There’s a noise in your ear that no one else can hear. It could be the sound of rushing waves, a constant ringing, a temporary buzzing or it might even be a snippet of music on repeat. If this sounds familiar, you probably have a condition known as tinnitus. However, you may still have a number of questions about this condition. Perhaps we should start with one of the biggest questions.

What causes tinnitus?

In most cases, tinnitus will be caused due to the individual exposing their ears to loud noises repeatedly. Typically, tinnitus is not constant and can be temporary, but it can also be recurring. And, if you continue to expose your ears to loud noises it can even get considerably worse. Many people believe that this is the only cause of tinnitus, but this isn’t true. If you speak to an audiologist, they will tell you that tinnitus can also have a physical cause such as the buildup of earwax or even a tumor.

Do you need to see an audiologist?

Not everyone who has tinnitus will go and see an audiologist, and you may not need to. You might find that your tinnitus is only temporary. If it only lasts a few hours or even a day, you should consider it a warning that you need to take better care of your ears. However, if it starts to become a recurring issue or if it even becomes constant, then it is definitely time to speak to an audiologist. Otherwise, it could get worse and may even become louder.

Do you need a hearing test?

It’s worth pointing out that tinnitus can be, but is not always, a sign of hearing loss. When you get tinnitus, it can mean that a level of your hearing is no longer there. For instance, you may not be able to hear noises at a certain pitch or frequency. A hearing test by an audiologist is one of the only ways to discover whether this is the case. But a hearing test is also the chance to get hearing aids that can mask the noise tinnitus causes and finally give you relief.

Can tinnitus be treated?

Some forms of tinnitus are easier to treat than others. Objective tinnitus, which can be heard by an audiologist, often has a physical cause that can be fixed by treatment. The most typical form of tinnitus is subjective, and for this, a hearing aid that can mask the sound is the best option.

Why is tinnitus louder at night?

The simple truth is that it isn’t. It just seems like that because nighttime is when the environment is generally very quiet. As such, that ringing in your ear becomes more noticeable. It may even stop you from sleeping. You can account for this with music to distract you and that allows you to drift to sleep once you forget that the noise is actually there.

Contact an audiologist if you think you may be suffering from tinnitus. Tinnitus can be incredibly debilitating to your quality of life, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.