What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a medical condition characterized by persistent ringing in one or both ears that can only be heard by the affected individual. It has also been described as whistling, hissing, buzzing, or pulsing in the ear. These sounds may come and go, but for most tinnitus sufferers, the symptoms produce a constant, maddening drone. The effects range from slight annoyance to severe disruption of everyday life. The American Tinnitus Association estimates that more than 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus.
Tinnitus Treatments
Because of the personal and unique nature of each tinnitus condition, proper evaluation and specialized treatment is necessary. Although there isn’t a single cure for tinnitus, Yvette Bethea is experienced at providing individual solutions on a case-by-case basis. After completing a hearing test, your professional may refer you to an otolaryngologist for further examination, if medical treatment is necessary.
In many cases, the distressing combination of tinnitus and hearing loss can be relieved with hearing aids. Specially engineered hearing aids are now available, and they can restore ambient sounds and help fill Sound Voids™ to eliminate the effects of tinnitus.
Yvette will also evaluate other treatment options with you, including Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). TRT combines low-level, steady background sounds played through a device with concurrent counseling. It is an involved process that can take several months to reduce the effects of tinnitus.