What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (pronounced tin-Ny-tus or TIN-u-tus) is the perceived sound of ringing, roaring, hissing, buzzing, or clicking, despite no external sound being present. The sound may occur in one or both ears and can be constant or intermittent. Tinnitus may vary in loudness level and tends to be particularly noticeable in quiet environments.

Causes:

Research has not found a definitive answer on the cause of tinnitus. However, researchers have found that tinnitus can result from a variety of causes including:

• Hearing loss
• Loud noise exposure
• Ear infection or ear wax impaction
• Head or neck injury
• Certain medications

Management and Treatment: 

Currently there is no cure for tinnitus but there are treatments that can help reduce its impact on daily life. For those with hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing aids can provide benefit through amplification and as sound generators. Hearing aids amplify the environmental sounds you are missing, which helps cover the sound of tinnitus. Hearing aids can also generate sounds (such as white noise, music, or other tones) that help mask the tinnitus. Our audiologists are trained to fit hearing aids designed for patients experiencing tinnitus. To schedule a consultation, please call Alexandria Hearing Centers at (703) 372-9792.