Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking, or hissing sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot? If you answer yes to these questions, you may have tinnitus (tin-NY-tus).

Tinnitus is not a disease in and of itself, but a symptom related to some other health problems. Roughly 25 million Americans have experienced tinnitus. Some cases are so severe that the tinnitus interferes with the person's daily activities. People with severe cases of tinnitus may find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep. It can cause depression and indirectly lead to other health issues.

What causes tinnitus?

• Hearing loss.There is numerous, well-established research that shows more than 85% of persons with tinnitus also have hearing loss. It makes sense that if you hear less of your surroundings, you'll hear more of what's going on inside your head.
• Loud noise.Too much exposure to loud noise can cause noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Medications.More than 200 medicines can directly cause tinnitus and many others have it as a possible side effect. If you have tinnitus and you take medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your prescription could be involved.
• Other health problems.Allergies, tumors, and problems in the heart and blood vessels, jaw, and neck can cause tinnitus.

What can I do to help myself?

When seeking relief from tinnitus, many people are told that there is no cure and that they simply need to "learn how to get used to it." Unfortunately, they are also not given ideas on how to get used to it. This is where the role of the audiologist and other professionals can come into play to help the patient where medical science cannot (at least at this point in time).

Think about things that will help you cope. Sound therapy–using other sounds in your environment to distract you from the tinnitus–has often proven useful. Many people find listening to music very helpful. Other people like to listen to recorded nature sounds, like ocean waves, the wind, or even crickets.

Avoid anything that can make your tinnitus worse. This includes smoking, alcohol, and exposure to loud noise. If you are a construction worker, an airport worker, a hunter, or if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at home or at work, wear ear plugs or earmuffs to protect your hearing and keep your tinnitus from getting worse.

If it is hard for you to hear over your tinnitus, use communication strategies to improve the situation, such as asking your friends and family to face you when they talk so you can see their faces. We all subconsciously read lips, and seeing facial expressions can also help. Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. Also, tell them they do not have to talk slowly, just more clearly.

How can hearing professionals help treat my tinnitus?

Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are some well-established methods for reducing its effects. Not every treatment works for everyone, so you may need to try several to find the ones that help.

Treatments can include:

• Education.This is where you start. Reading this article is a first step, but you can continue expanding your knowledge about tinnitus by exploring it more deeply. Dr. Richard Tyler's The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus is an excellent resource to give more detailed information on tinnitus causes and treatments. Also, attending Salem Audiology Clinic's class on tinnitus will help.
• Hearing aids.As previously stated, most people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid makes it easier for some people to hear the sounds they need to hear by making them louder, as well as making it less likely you will hear the tinnitus. The focus of using hearing aids should be solely on improving your hearing, and if tinnitus is reduced, it is just a side effect. One manufacturer, Widex, has developed a hearing aid specifically to help with tinnitus.
• Sound generators.Some people sleep better when they use a sound generator. Listening to static at a low volume on the radio or using a bedside sound generator can help. These are devices you can put by your bed instead of behind your ear. They can help you ignore your tinnitus and fall asleep.
• Medicine or drug therapy.Some medicines may ease tinnitus. If your doctor prescribes medicine to treat your tinnitus, he or she can tell you whether the medicine has any side effects. Be careful of "miracle cures" that you may read about in magazines or hear about on the radio; quackery still exists today.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy.This treatment uses a combination of counseling and maskers. Audiologists and other professionals help you learn how to deal with your tinnitus better. With training, some people can learn how to avoid thinking about their tinnitus. It takes time for this treatment to work, but it can be very helpful.
• Relaxing.Learning how to relax is very helpful if the noise in your ears frustrates you. Stress makes tinnitus seem worse. By relaxing, you have a chance to rest and better deal with the sound.
• Start with Diagnosis.Simply having a hearing test and getting hearing aids won't solve your problem. As with any medical problem you should start a diagnostic evaluation of the problem. Cooperation between your audiologist and primary care physician can serve to develop a cohesive treatment program.