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What Is Tinnitus?

Ringing in the ears or similar sounds is not a disease in itself but rather a symptom of an underlying issue. There are a variety of potential causes.

What Causes Tinnitus?

The most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noises, which can damage the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear. These cells respond to different soundwave frequencies or tones and relay signals to the brain. These signals may be changed when the inner ear is altered or damaged. Several common causes include: 

• Earwax blockage
• Age-related hearing loss
• Ear infections
• Certain medications (i.e. steroids like prednisone) 

Seeing your doctor can help you determine what the underlying cause may be and what the best course of action will be moving forward. If an underlying cause cannot be determined quickly, you may be referred to a specialist — an ear, nose, and throat doctor or ENT, for instance. 

Acute Tinnitus

In some instances, tinnitus can go away on its own without any treatment. This is often the case when exposed to a singular loud noise at work, a concert, etc. Symptoms may last for a few minutes up to a few days. 

In some cases, treatment (or removal) of the cause is needed. An ear infection can be treated with antibiotics, earwax can be removed, and medications can be stopped if deemed appropriate by your doctor. Various medications can cause or worsen tinnitus, so if any of these were started prior to experiencing symptoms, it may be helpful to discuss this with your doctor: 

• Steroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone, etc.)
• NSAIDs (including some over-the-counter options like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin)
• Antibiotics
• Cancer medications
• Malaria medications
• Certain antidepressants

Chronic Tinnitus

Unfortunately, some damage to hearing can be more permanent, lasting months or years. Repeated exposure to loud noises and hearing loss can be potential causes for more long-term symptoms. This can take an emotional toll over time, as these unwanted sounds become consistently disruptive. As a result, chronic tinnitus is understandably associated with anxiety and depression. 

Tinnitus Treatment and Management

So, how do you get rid of tinnitus? The best way to treat tinnitus that has not gone away on its own is to visit your doctor and determine an underlying cause. In some instances, treating or removing the cause will result in symptoms stopping completely. However, in other instances, it may be determined that these symptoms may be likely to persist due to inner ear damage. 

While tinnitus symptoms may not go away entirely, there are ways to reduce the impact: 

• Therapy services: Working with a therapist reduces the impact of symptoms in several ways, including learning coping strategies, identifying negative thought patterns related to symptoms, and retraining therapy which aids in adjustment. These have been shown to improve the overall well-being of individuals managing chronic tinnitus significantly. Services like Online-Therapy.com can help make this process convenient as well. 
• Sound generators: Playing sounds like streams, rain, or soothing music can help distract from tinnitus making it easier to relax or fall asleep. 
• Hearing aids: An improved ability to hear your surroundings and interact with others can make tinnitus less noticeable. 
• Supplements: The most commonly used supplements for tinnitus employ bioflavonoids. Lipo-Flavonoid is perhaps the most well-known and has an established history of use. These supplements have had mixed results over time, with some studies having difficulty differentiating from placebo, while others show improvements in symptom severity. Overall, Lipo-Flavonoid has proven safe to use, and while it may not resolve symptoms, there is a chance it may reduce their impact. 

References

1. National Institue on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. “Tinnitus.” May 2023. Accessed October 21, 2023.
2. Dalrymple, Sarah N.; et al. “Tinnitus: Diagnosis and Management.” American Family Physician, June 2021. Accessed October 21, 2023.
3. Lonczak, Lori E. “Lipoflavonoid Benefits in Patients with Tinnitus.” International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, May 2021. Accessed October 21, 2023.