Ringing In Ears: Should You Rush to the Doctor?
Let me guess...
you're sick and tired of the constant ringing in your ears and you feel like the only other option left is jumping in the car and heading to the doctor right? Well before you go pay that ridiculously high copay and wait way to long in the doctors office reading his golf digest magazines he brought from home, let me show you a few cool techniques and strategies that can help stop that annoying ringing sound in your ears.
Continuous ringing in ears may not call for an urgent need to see a doctor but it sure can be very annoying.
The issue of sound in the ear without any external source is commonly known as Tinnitus.
Some people may experience a continuous ringing sound while others may hear buzzing, whistling, chirping, roaring, shrieking, hissing or even humming sounds.
People with Tinnitus often times feel that these sounds are coming from inside their heads, only in one ear, both ears, or from a distant source.
The characteristic of the sound may vary.
It can be loud, steady, pulsating, constant, or intermittent...
you name it! The question; is this mild ringing in the ears an alarm for some serious health issues that need immediate medical attention? Let's find out...
So What Causes Ringing Ears? Ringing in ears for some is a short and temporary condition and is a common condition experienced by tons of people.
It is usually associated with exposure to a very loud noise like a Metallica concert or huge blast (without ear protection) that can trigger short term Tinnitus.
This generally goes away after a short while.
The issue of ringing ears may become chronic or serious if it continues for over six months of time.
Medical specialists report that over 50 million people suffer chronic Tinnitus in just the US alone, and most common sufferers are above fifty-five years old.
Among older people it may indicate a loss of hearing.
It rarely is a sign indicating permanent deafness or other serious medical issues.
Although, the issue of ringing ears is tolerable and manageable, when it starts disturbing your normal daily routine and your concentration you may seek psychotherapy or medical treatments.
Understand that this condition is not considered serious or dangerous.
It will become less noticeable over time.
Sometimes insomnia or depression can also trigger Tinnitus and such generated issues of ringing ears can easily be omitted by treating the depression and insomnia first.
How Do You Manage It? There are medications that can be prescribed by a physician that will help to alleviate the symptoms of Tinnitus.
If you prefer some less bothersome strategies to deal with the issue of ringing ears, below are some of the very effective approaches through sound generating devices and behavioral strategies.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Under this type of therapy it is assumed that Tinnitus is caused due to some abnormal nerve activity.
The therapy aims to retrain the auditory (meaning hearing) system for Tinnitus sounds making it manageable and less troublesome.
It has two focuses:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Also known as CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy uses relaxation and restructuring techniques to alter the way a person responds to Tinnitus.
Such therapies can be given as weekly sessions for a period of six months or so.
These therapies can significantly improve quality of life by making the sounds less annoying.
Masking: Masking devices are worn similar to hearing aids.
Masking devices generate a low-pitched noise to reduce the noises caused by the Tinnitus.
In some cases a radio, music player, or a fan can be used to mask the ringing in ears.
Other Therapies: There also are other therapies used to treat Tinnitus such as stress management, biofeedback, electrical stimulation's, etc.
It is recommended to first try basic therapies like masking or CBT before opting for further advanced and more expensive techniques and devices.
Ringing in ears is generally not considered to be an emergency medical condition.
So take a deep breath and relax.
For many, this is just simply a temporary nuisance.
For others it may require medication, therapy, and/or professional medical assistance.
If the problem continues always seek the help of a physician.
you're sick and tired of the constant ringing in your ears and you feel like the only other option left is jumping in the car and heading to the doctor right? Well before you go pay that ridiculously high copay and wait way to long in the doctors office reading his golf digest magazines he brought from home, let me show you a few cool techniques and strategies that can help stop that annoying ringing sound in your ears.
Continuous ringing in ears may not call for an urgent need to see a doctor but it sure can be very annoying.
The issue of sound in the ear without any external source is commonly known as Tinnitus.
Some people may experience a continuous ringing sound while others may hear buzzing, whistling, chirping, roaring, shrieking, hissing or even humming sounds.
People with Tinnitus often times feel that these sounds are coming from inside their heads, only in one ear, both ears, or from a distant source.
The characteristic of the sound may vary.
It can be loud, steady, pulsating, constant, or intermittent...
you name it! The question; is this mild ringing in the ears an alarm for some serious health issues that need immediate medical attention? Let's find out...
So What Causes Ringing Ears? Ringing in ears for some is a short and temporary condition and is a common condition experienced by tons of people.
It is usually associated with exposure to a very loud noise like a Metallica concert or huge blast (without ear protection) that can trigger short term Tinnitus.
This generally goes away after a short while.
The issue of ringing ears may become chronic or serious if it continues for over six months of time.
Medical specialists report that over 50 million people suffer chronic Tinnitus in just the US alone, and most common sufferers are above fifty-five years old.
Among older people it may indicate a loss of hearing.
It rarely is a sign indicating permanent deafness or other serious medical issues.
Although, the issue of ringing ears is tolerable and manageable, when it starts disturbing your normal daily routine and your concentration you may seek psychotherapy or medical treatments.
Understand that this condition is not considered serious or dangerous.
It will become less noticeable over time.
Sometimes insomnia or depression can also trigger Tinnitus and such generated issues of ringing ears can easily be omitted by treating the depression and insomnia first.
How Do You Manage It? There are medications that can be prescribed by a physician that will help to alleviate the symptoms of Tinnitus.
If you prefer some less bothersome strategies to deal with the issue of ringing ears, below are some of the very effective approaches through sound generating devices and behavioral strategies.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Under this type of therapy it is assumed that Tinnitus is caused due to some abnormal nerve activity.
The therapy aims to retrain the auditory (meaning hearing) system for Tinnitus sounds making it manageable and less troublesome.
It has two focuses:
- To counsel the sufferer about how it has developed and that it is not serious
- To implement sound therapy which may include insertion of a sounding device
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Also known as CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy uses relaxation and restructuring techniques to alter the way a person responds to Tinnitus.
Such therapies can be given as weekly sessions for a period of six months or so.
These therapies can significantly improve quality of life by making the sounds less annoying.
Masking: Masking devices are worn similar to hearing aids.
Masking devices generate a low-pitched noise to reduce the noises caused by the Tinnitus.
In some cases a radio, music player, or a fan can be used to mask the ringing in ears.
Other Therapies: There also are other therapies used to treat Tinnitus such as stress management, biofeedback, electrical stimulation's, etc.
It is recommended to first try basic therapies like masking or CBT before opting for further advanced and more expensive techniques and devices.
Ringing in ears is generally not considered to be an emergency medical condition.
So take a deep breath and relax.
For many, this is just simply a temporary nuisance.
For others it may require medication, therapy, and/or professional medical assistance.
If the problem continues always seek the help of a physician.