How Does an Audiologist Help with Tinnitus?

If you suspect that you have tinnitus, you may be finding it hard to relax in quiet rooms, remain focused at work or even follow basic conversations. If you have started to experience abnormal sounds, you should not think twice about visiting a specialized audiologist who can help you reduce the risk of complications and find a hearing aid that works for your unique needs.

Understanding What Tinnitus Is

One of the main benefits of working with an audiologist is the knowledge and expertise they can offer regarding tinnitus. So, what is tinnitus? Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition that causes you to experience noises – usually like crackling, ringing, buzzing or whistling – that are not actually there. These noises don’t come from an external source, and they are caused by dysfunction in your hearing.

Testing For Tinnitus

Tinnitus tends to develop over time, and you may not even fully understand its causes or symptoms until the ringing in your ears becomes prominent. An audiologist will use a range of diagnostic tests to determine whether you have tinnitus – which is the first step towards finding a treatment option.

An audiologist can help you determine what the cause behind your tinnitus is. This is particularly important. Indeed, in most cases, tinnitus is caused by minor issues such as consuming caffeine or earwax buildup. However, sometimes, the ringing in your ears can be a symptom of a more severe underlying condition, such as head injury.

Providing Lifestyle Recommendations to Help with Tinnitus

If your tinnitus is caused by lifestyle factors such as stress, smoking cigarettes or consuming caffeine, an audiologist will help you make positive lifestyle changes that may reduce your symptoms without the need for additional treatments. Additionally, an audiologist will guide you towards building a lifestyle that will safeguard your hearing health over time. For example, they may recommend you use hearing protection if you spend time in loud environments or avoid exposure to loud noises.

Helping You Choose Additional Features

If your tinnitus stems from hearing loss, an audiologist may recommend you wear a hearing aid. Other features for hearing devices for tinnitus come in many shapes or forms. Some will amplify external sounds, which can help you better hear external noises over your tinnitus. Additional features called tinnitus maskers, will conceal noises that don’t come from external sources. This can help you regain your hearing function.

Sound machines, which produce white or background noises, may also help you deal with your symptoms in quiet environments, such as when you are trying to fall asleep.

Providing Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy is a form of psychological therapy designed to help you retrain your brain to ignore the tinnitus noises. This can help you better deal with your symptoms and improve hearing function over time.

Find a Trusted Audiologist to Help with Tinnitus Today

If you suspect that you have tinnitus, an audiologist should be your first port of call. An audiologist will help you find ways to restore your hearing health and return to enjoying daily activities, such as watching your favorite movies and converse with your loved ones.