Treatment for tinnitus

By Sarah Curtis, Au.D., founder of Sounds of Life Hearing

Am I hearing things? It’s a question many have asked themselves at one time or another. If you’ve experienced a constant or periodic ringing, humming or buzzing in your ears, you may be suffering from tinnitus.

“Tinnitus is a noise you hear in your ears but no one else can hear,” says Sarah Curtis, Au.D. founder of Sounds of Life Hearing in Concord Township. “Often described as ringing or buzzing, others experience a steady tone or roaring sound.”

Tinnitus is a very real problem that affects a large percentage of people with hearing loss (about 80%) but can also affect people with normal hearing. Causes include trauma to the ears from noise exposure, medications, head/brain injury and systemic disease.

“Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus but there are treatments,” says Dr. Curtis. “Masking devices will produce sounds for the patient to hear other than their tinnitus. Hearing aids are appropriate and successful when hearing loss is also present.”

Dr. Curtis adds that coping strategies like mindfulness and meditation can help, as well as formal psychological therapy. She advises anyone experiencing these types of sounds to seek evaluation and develop a treatment plan with a Doctor of Audiology. Evaluation by a physician may also be appropriate.

“I have been successful in bringing the severity of tinnitus from severe to non-bothersome,” says Dr. Curtis. “We are giving tinnitus sufferers hope. Don’t let anyone tell you nothing can be done about it. Sounds of Life Hearing can help.”

Sounds of Life Hearing Center is located at 8007 Auburn Road, Suite 1, in Concord Township. For more information call 440-579-4085, or check the website SoundsOfLifeHC.com.