5-31-05
Tinnitus

Often people hear temporary ringing in the ears after exposure to loud noises, but for many people, it is an ongoing problem.

A constant ringing in the ears, or tinnitus (tin’-it-tus), is experienced by thirty million Americans. It is a perceived sound that can be very distressing and bothersome, even interfering with the ability to sleep and work. Dr. Carol Bauer, associate professor of otolaryngology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says tinnitus can be described in different ways.

SOUND BITE: "People say their tinnitus sounds like crickets on a summer night. Some people say it sounds like a buzzing. For some people it’s a roaring or an electrical hissing sound so it can take on almost any characteristic – high pitch, low pitch so it has a lot of diversity to it."

Dr. Bauer says the two most common causes of tinnitus are age-related hearing loss and noise damage to the ears. She says after tinnitus has been diagnosed, the first treatment option is hearing aids.

SOUND BITE: "By putting more sound back into the auditory pathway we can actually mask out the tinnitus and trick the brain into turning down the volume of the tinnitus. If that doesn’t work for people or if hearing aids are not an option, there is another form of therapy called tinnitus retraining therapy . . ."

Dr. Bauer advises people to use ear protection when they are around loud noises. She says anyone with a new sound in the ears that persists for longer than an hour should see a family physician, who may refer them to an ear, nose and throat specialist for evaluation and possible treatment.