Tinnitus Treatment in Calgary and Airdrie

Tinnitus Defined

Often mistaken for a disease, tinnitus is actually a symptom, a condition in which a person experiences persistent ringing in one or both ears; some have described the experience as whistling, hissing, buzzing, or even a pulsing sound. Whatever form it takes, tinnitus can only be heard by the affected individual. For some people. Tinnitus sounds come and go. But for most, the sounds are persistent, continuing 24/7/365.

The Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is usually representative of an inner-ear problem, and is often caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise. Depending on the intensity of the sound, your hearing may be damaged temporarily or permanently; whether or not temporary damage will become permanent is something that can’t always be determined. Other possible causes of tinnitus are: certain medications, diet, head trauma, stress, eardrum blockage, jaw joint disorders and hearing loss. Mechanisms that cause tinnitus in the brain and inner ear are the subject of ongoing research.

In rare cases, a blood vessel disorder may result in “pulsatile tinnitus,” which sends pulsing signals in concert with your heartbeat. It can be caused by a tumor of the head or neck head, a buildup of circulatory system cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, blood flow turbulence or malformed capillaries surrounding the ear.

A Cure for Tinnitus?

At present, there is no cure for tinnitus. But our hearing professionals will help you find out what’s causing your tinnitus and explore possibilities for reducing its effect on your life. Sometimes, simply changing your diet or medication regimen can help with your symptoms. Relaxation techniques can also be a source of relief.

What Tinnitus Treatment Options Are Available?

Having your hearing tested and evaluated by an otologist will determine if medical factors might be causing or contributing to your tinnitus. The individual nature of the tinnitus experience makes an in-depth evaluation key to helping us determine your unique needs and creating a specialized treatment plan for you.

Our Hearing Instrument Specialists are trained to provide treatment methods that can help lessen the impact of tinnitus. Hearing technology can, in many cases, relieve the burden caused by the combination of tinnitus and hearing loss. Treatment options include:

• Hearing Technology that can improve hearing overall and eliminate perceived ringing.
• Maskers that are fitted to the ear like hearing aids and produce low-level sounds to distract the wearer from tinnitus.
• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy which combines sound therapy and counseling designed to alter brain signals and weaken the perception of tinnitus.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which is counseling focused on altering negative thought patterns and relieving stress with the goal of changing the body’s emotional reaction to tinnitus.

Personal Hearing Systems are the most popular treatment for people who experience both tinnitus and hearing loss. Such systems can improve hearing and often reduce or even eliminate the experience of tinnitus sounds.