Tinnitus treatment Mesa Phoenix area

Tinnitus is a condition in which a person hears a constant sound that isn’t truly present. It’s a relatively common problem, with studies showing that it affects approximately 1 in 10 adults in the US. While it’s commonly described as “ringing in the ears,” this isn’t always an accurate description of tinnitus. In fact, there are a variety of sounds that tinnitus sufferers may hear.

What might the world sound like for a person with tinnitus?

Types of sounds that may be heard by tinnitus patients

There are a large number of sounds that tinnitus sufferers might hear. Some of them include:

• Roaring
• Buzzing
• Hissing
• Whistling
• Ringing
• Static
• Squealing
• Clicking
• Pulsing
• Dial tone
• Running engine
• Ocean waves
• Crickets
• Music

Almost any repetitive noise can be heard by people with tinnitus. The volume can vary significantly. For some people, tinnitus can be loud enough to make it hard to hear the real sounds around them. For others, it’s quieter but is often still an annoyance. 

Those who hear a more organized sound, like music, may find themselves searching their environment for the source (for example, a device that they’re sure must be playing music somewhere), before they realize that the sound is not really there.

Why does tinnitus happen?

In most cases, tinnitus is related to hearing loss. When the brain does not receive its normal audio input from the ears, then it may “fill in the gaps.” As a result, the patient perceives a sound that isn’t present in the environment. The sound is being generated inside of the brain, as a result of the lack of normal sound input.

When a person with hearing loss gets a hearing aid, they often experience some relief from their tinnitus. This is because the brain is now receiving more audio input from the ears, and no longer needs to fill in the gaps with other sounds.

Tinnitus treatment Mesa Phoenix area

If you’re hearing any type of repetitive sound that isn’t really there, then you probably have tinnitus. It’s likely that you have some level of hearing loss as well, although there are other possible causes of tinnitus. You should visit an audiologist (a hearing doctor) for an evaluation so that the cause of your symptoms can be determined.
Hearing loss can cause a variety of problems, including increasing the risk of dementia. If you have hearing loss, treatment may help to protect your brain, and may also reduce or even eliminate your tinnitus. If you’re in the area around Mesa or Phoenix, we invite you to contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our two highly experienced audiologists. You don’t have to simply live with bothersome symptoms like tinnitus for the rest of your life. Relief may be possible.