Tinnitus

Tinnitus, often described as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear, is a symptom that can be related to almost every known hearing problem.

What causes tinnitus?

The exact physiological cause or causes of tinnitus are not known. There are, however, several likely sources, all of which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus. One of the most common causes of tinnitus is exposure to excessively loud sounds either on the job or recreationally. In addition, tinnitus can sometimes result from problems not associated with the ear, such as head injury or disorders of the neck vertebrae or jaw joint.

How many people suffer from tinnitus?

It is currently estimated that 50 million Americans have tinnitus to some degree. Of those, 12 million have it severely enough to seek medical help.

Is tinnitus interfering with my hearing?

No, tinnitus does not interfere with hearing, although it may affect your attention span. On the other hand, tinnitus will seem worse if your hearing loss increases because outside sounds will no longer cover up the tinnitus.

Dealing with tinnitus

Although psychological or emotional problems may be associated with tinnitus, it is a real problem - not imagined. Almost all patients indicate that stress or tension makes their tinnitus worse. Contact an audiologist to learn about ways to manage your tinnitus.

Relieving tinnitus

A consultation with your physician is necessary to determine if your tinnitus is medically treatable before pursuing other intervention options. The purpose of the examination is to determine if there is a treatable medical condition causing tinnitus. There are no cures for tinnitus, but there are several treatments currently used to produce relief.

Columbus Speech & Hearing Center Audiology is currently offering Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment. Neuromonics' treatment approach is a clinically proven, non-invasive treatment that has been shown to be effective.

Using the Neuromonics Oasis device the treatment delivers a spectrally-modified neural stimulus that is designed to interact, interrupt and desensitize tinnitus disturbance for long-term benefit. To learn more about Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment contact Columbus Speech & Hearing Center Audiologist Dr. Emily Drew, 614.261.5453 or visit www.neuromonics.com

A consultation with an Audiologist is necessary to determine if this treatment approach is right for you.

To learn more about how Columbus Speech & Hearing Center can help you manage your tinnitus download our tinnitus brochure.

Save the Date!

Columbus Speech & Hearing Center is hosting a FREE consumer education seminar to help you learn more about tinnitus and available treatment options.

Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: 510 E. North Broadway, 3rd floor conference room
Register: Call 614.261.5451 or e-mail Beth Blackstone.