Tinnitus is a very common condition which about 20% of the population either have or they have had. Therefore, there are lots of known solutions to coping with this condition and living as normal a life as is possible. However, we believe that there are some solutions which are inherently better than others, so we will explore these specifically.
Tinnitus is a condition, whereby you hear a constant ringing in your ears and the noise can be very acute, mild or it can come and go depending on the environmental situation. Tinnitus is experienced differently by different people so there is no magic solution, but there are several options available to alleviate symptoms.
Understand Your Symptoms
Once we can know a little more about tinnitus, we can shape the solutions to our needs and likes. Let’s look at the symptoms:
- Ringing
- Humming
- Buzzing
- Hissing
All four of these are very common in those who have tinnitus. It’s not just a ringing noise although this is the most common of all. It’s essentially a white noise that is constant and can be distracting or even annoying. This is due to damaged hairs inside the cochlea which is the inner ear where the most sensitive bones and tissue is. Turbulence which is made by blood rushing through in your jugular vein causes this constant white noise as the hairs are unable to properly absorb and mitigate this internal noise.
Lower Your BP
As you can probably imagine, if you could lower your blood pressure you could lessen the noise that comes from the blood rushing through your jugular. You do this in the normal ways that everyone else does this:
- Take up yoga, stretching and controlling your breathing helps a lot.
- Exercise: The more fit you are, the healthier your body will be and this means a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure.
- Meditation helps a lot because you are sitting still, concentrating on deep breaths and lowering your stress levels.
- Try not to worry as much: Anxiety plays a big role in increasing our blood pressure. So, find things to do that take this away, such as painting, reading and going for walks.
The Right Hearing Aid
Hearing aids can be equipped with masking features to help override symptoms of tinnitus. There are three main types of hearing aids, in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC). We’ll go through each style briefly so you can see what the benefits are for each.
- In the ear (ITE): Very common and perhaps the most popular nowadays, is the ITE style. This is small, often too small to be seen from a distance and very comfortable. It’s lightweight and molded to the shape of your ear. It’s also not as sensitive to sound, because of its size, you can’t cram a lot of technology inside it. Therefore, it’s great to wear every day, even in busy places.
- Behind the ear (BTE): The most sensitive and most advanced type of hearing aid is the BTE variant. It’s large and can be seen clearly. They usually fit the curve of your ear so it’s not uncomfortable to wear all the time. These are recommended for those that have a lot of need for hearing. If not being able to hear properly stresses you out and thus increases your blood pressure, these are the best style for you. You won’t miss out on any little whisper or noise and remain fully aware of your surroundings.
- In the canal (ITC): The smallest of all, is the ITC style. This is great for those that live an active lifestyle. It’s based in the canal so it’s very small but not as sensitive. Great for those that have tinnitus because it’s very casual and can be worn all the time, except when asleep. Easy to maintain and clean, it’s great for those with a mild to minimal tinnitus and hearing challenges.
Use A Sound Machine
If you go and see an audiologist, you will be told that complete silence makes tinnitus very apparent. While hearing aids can help during the daytime, there are many styles you won’t wear at night. A sound machine can help you ignore these sounds and fall asleep easier.
Feel free to contact us and learn more about Kampsen Hearing. Call us at (813) 369-5692 or visit our website for more options. Treatments you can include: hearing aids, sound machines, tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and lifestyle modification. We hope to see you soon!