Tinnitus

About 50 million Americans live with the constant ringing sounds of tinnitus. If your quality of life is low because of the persistent noises in your ears, you can find comprehensive care at South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center. Stan Phillips, MD, and his hearing specialists offer on-site testing services to identify what’s causing tinnitus. 80-90% of tinnitus is caused by a hearing loss. The first step may be a hearing test. They also offer advanced treatments, including Widex® Zen therapy, to desensitize your brain to the sounds and relieve the stress tinnitus can cause. Call the office in Huntersville, North Carolina, to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for tinnitus or book an appointment online today.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus describes a ringing in one or both of your ears. When you have this issue, you may also hear persistent sounds like:

• Hissing
• Roaring
• Pulsing
• Chirping
• Whooshing
• Whistling
• Clicking

While tinnitus isn’t a disease, it can be a symptom of an underlying condition in your ears. Tinnitus often develops because of age-related hearing loss, ear infections or injuries, and damage along the neural pathways between your ear and brain.

Other causes of tinnitus can include certain medications, excess stress, and anxiety. If you frequent loud environments or work with noisy equipment, you may be at increased risk of experiencing tinnitus.

When should I seek medical help for tinnitus?

You might have tinnitus symptoms that don’t disrupt your life. However, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center if you have ringing or other persistent sounds in your ear that interfere with your responsibilities or quality of life.

For some, tinnitus can cause:

• Stress
• Insomnia
• Memory issues
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Depression

You should also meet with the team if you have hearing loss or dizziness or if your tinnitus symptoms continue to worsen. The team reviews your medical history and symptoms to identify the cause of tinnitus. They also provide in-office hearing assessments to better understand your needs.

Your provider can also serve as an expert witness in legal cases for tinnitus as a hearing loss doctor trained under one of the world leaders in tinnitus research and treatment. 

How is tinnitus treated?

To stop the persistent ringing or other sounds in your ear, South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center offers Widex® Zen therapy and Neuromonics®.

The goals of these therapies are to desensitize your brain to the sounds of tinnitus and reduce the annoyance with the sounds. The team uses Zen fractal tones in hearing aids and relaxing music to desensitize your brain and reprogram neural responses.

That approach addresses the three major components of tinnitus stress, including auditory, attention, and emotion. Sound therapy can not only help reduce your stress during the day, but it can also provide relaxation to improve your sleep.

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation for hearing loss online or call South Lake Ears Nose and Throat, Hearing and Tinnitus Center today.