It can be hard to know when to see a specialist for tinnitus. Perhaps you think you can push through it, or that it’s temporary, or you’re just hesitant to see a doctor. While all of these are understandable reactions, in some cases, it’s critical to seek medical attention from a specialist.
What Is Tinnitus?
Often known as “ringing in the ear,” tinnitus (pronounced “tin-NI-tus” or “TIN-ni-tus”) is the perception of sound that doesn’t actually exist. The sound you hear has no physical, external source. Instead, your brain is generating the sound on its own. Tinnitus is interesting because, technically speaking, it’s not a medical condition. It’s a symptom of another medical condition, usually damage to the structures of your inner ear or to the nerve pathway that carries sound information from the inner ear to the brain.
Because tinnitus isn’t a condition in and of itself, there is no cure for tinnitus—it’s far too varied for that. But there are several ways to ease tinnitus or reduce its symptoms.
Signs You Should See a Specialist for Your Tinnitus
Tinnitus affects over 25 million Americans and can be debilitating for some or indicate a medical emergency. Here are some signs that yours isn’t just a nuisance.
It Started Suddenly
Sudden changes in your hearing, occurring over the course of 72 hours or less, are considered a medical emergency. These types of changes can indicate that something is wrong or damaged in the middle ear’s sensory organs, which can be caused by a wide variety of things, including head trauma, cardiovascular problems, neurological disorders, aneurysm or infection. The window for effective intervention in issues like these can be very small, and tinnitus or hearing loss may become permanent if treatment is delayed for more than two to four weeks. Seeking treatment within three days is best. Get to an emergency room, urgent care or ENT clinic immediately.
It’s Accompanied by Other Symptoms
If you’re experiencing other symptoms with your tinnitus, such as dizziness, vertigo, muffled hearing or hearing loss, you should visit a doctor. Our inner ear is a complex area, home to both our balance and hearing systems, and as such, conditions that affect one often affect the other. If your tinnitus is accompanied by other hearing or balance problems, there’s probably an issue in the inner ear, such as Ménière’s disease or labyrinthitis, that needs attention.
It’s Gotten Louder, or Symptoms Have Changed
If you’ve been dealing with tinnitus for a while and have noticed that it’s progressing in severity, it’s time to get a specialist’s opinion. As stated above, tinnitus is a symptom of another health condition, so any changes to your tinnitus are probably related to changes or progression in the underlying cause.
It’s Impacting Your Daily Life
If tinnitus is creating a disturbance in your life, you’re not doing yourself any favors by trying to power through it. You don’t have to suffer (we’d say “suffer in silence,” but we all know there’s no silence with tinnitus). A tinnitus specialist or audiologist will be able to help you craft a tinnitus management program that lessens the impact of tinnitus on your life, getting you back to the peace of mind you need to function. If you have any questions about tinnitus or want to schedule a tinnitus evaluation, call Kampsen Hearing today.