YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH
RINGING
Revolutionary new Tinnitus Treatment Technology is now Changing Lives & Bringing Back Hope for many patients
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound when no actual external sound is present. Some patients often refer to it as “ringing in the ears”; however individuals report hearing a variety of sounds including “hissing”, “chirping” “music” “clicking” “humming” and “screeching”. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 15% of Americans experience some form of tinnitus.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
While there is no scientifically proven cure for tinnitus at this time, there are several treatment options focused on reducing the patient’s perceived degree and intensity of their tinnitus. These options include general wellness, variations of sound therapy, hearing aids and medications to address stress and anxiety, behavioral therapy and experimental treatments.
There are multiple factors that can cause tinnitus; however, in many cases hearing loss has been found in conjunction with sensorineural hearing loss. Each individual is unique in their tinnitus experience, and as such their treatment must be individually focused.
One of the first steps we take in treating tinnitus is a comprehensive case history which focuses on identifying potential underlying causes including medical issues, side effects of current medications, emotional or psychological issues, and fatigue and stressors that may be contributing to the tinnitus. We also will look at how your tinnitus is impacting you and your ability to function in your daily life.
A comprehensive audiometric (hearing) evaluation is conducted to determine if any hearing loss is present and to rule out any ear related medical issues. We will also test to determine the pitch and loudness of your tinnitus. With the results obtained we can begin to tailor a treatment protocol to address your tinnitus.
Common Questions about Tinnitus
What caused my tinnitus? Tinnitus is not a disease, but instead is a symptom of another issue. It can be the result of many things including simple issues e.g. impacted ear wax, TMJ issues, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, side effect of medications, excessive noise exposure, side effect of hearing loss, or stress, to name a few. It also can be the result of more serious health issues e.g. cardiovascular issues, thyroid problems, and brain tumors. Therefore, it is important to be evaluated.
Is my tinnitus the sign of a serious health issue? In most cases tinnitus is a benign condition and not indicative of a serious health condition.
Does tinnitus cause hearing loss? Tinnitus is often found along with hearing loss. It is most often a symptom of concurring hearing loss and not the cause of the hearing loss.
Can other people hear my tinnitus? There are two types of tinnitus: Subjective tinnitus which is the most common. This is tinnitus that only you can hear. Objective tinnitus is very rare. In this case it is possible for others to hear the tinnitus also, but only if they are very close to you or possibly through a microphone.
Will my tinnitus get worse? In most cases of patients with recent onset tinnitus, it may resolve itself within 6 to 12 weeks. For patients with longstanding tinnitus, treatment can be very effective in reducing, or in some cases completely eliminating their tinnitus.
Your Tinnitus Treatment Team
https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus
To help patients achieve the best possible treatment, American Tinnitus Association (ATA) only promotes healthcare practices and management tools that have been sufficiently scientifically-validated effective and safe for tinnitus. There is presently no known cure for tinnitus.
However, there are very good, well-established tools and treatments that can significantly reduce the perceived burden of tinnitus. these options can help tinnitus patients — even those with severe cases of the condition.
Dr. Amy Greer, Dr. Karen Lemme, Dr. Ashlee McCloskey are the trained tinnitus specialists. Our Audiologists will work proactively to best treat your tinnitus at any Lemme Audiology practices in Ebensburg, Altoona and coming soon Martinsburg offices.
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