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How Quality of Life is Affected by Tinnitus

There are over 50 million Americans who currently experience tinnitus. Of those 50 million, 20 million have a moderate form of the condition, while more than two million have a more severe degree. It can be constant or intermittent, but it's always the same – a ringing, buzzing, whirring or whooshing noise that does not have

How Quality of Life is Affected by Tinnitus

Dec 15, 2020

There are over 50 million Americans who currently experience tinnitus. Of those 50 million, 20 million have a moderate form of the condition, while more than two million have a more severe degree. It can be constant or intermittent, but it’s always the same – a ringing, buzzing, whirring or whooshing noise that does not have an external cause.


Impact

Due to the diverse nature of tinnitus, there are a few forms that you are likely familiar with; irregular, constant, pulsatile or tonal, chronic, or acute. In the milder cases, people with tinnitus view it more as a distraction; the more severe the tinnitus, the more likely there is to be some quality of life impact.


Quality of life

There are a number of things that also accompany tinnitus. Even the most moderate of cases can have an impact on how someone is able to work or socialize. There are many occasions that people with tinnitus will experience:

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Irritability

  • Frustration

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Distress

  • Pain, if the tinnitus is accompanied by hyperacusis

People who experience tinnitus extend beyond just the person, it will often have an impact on family and friends too. A knowledgeable and large support network is a must. Because tinnitus has its own noise, which in some cases will be a loud ringing, it can cause sensitivity to other noises, which makes socializing undesirable at times.

Improving quality of life

If you are looking to improve the quality of life, as a person with tinnitus, there are a number of great things you can do. When you start working with the right audiologist, you will see there is a range of options when it comes to the management of tinnitus.

Hearing aids

The most commonly recommended treatment for tinnitus is hearing aids. Some instances of tinnitus occur simultaneously with hearing loss, and when hearing aids are used, can alleviate the ringing and buzzing. However, even if you do not have hearing loss, these devices can still be beneficial when equipped with masking features to help override the tinnitus sounds you hear.

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)

Another relief method often used in tandem with hearing aids is tinnitus retraining therapy. TRT is a form of therapy that teaches your brain how to override the tinnitus sound you here. This treatment is beneficial because there will be instances when you cannot wear your hearing aids, like in the shower or when going to bed at night, and TRT can help you combat the unwanted noise.

Sound therapies

While this might seem like a pretty broad term, sound therapy has a few focus areas that are shown to have a significant impact on tinnitus. The usage of external sounds to change how a person perceives and reacts to tinnitus. Sound therapy, while it may not cure tinnitus, it may significantly reduce the intensity that a person will register their tinnitus. This can come in the form of a machine that produces white noise, or may be something as simple as running the water or vacuum to block out the tinnitus sounds.

Neuromodulation: This is where a specialized sound is introduced to minimize neural hyperactivity, which may be an underlying factor in tinnitus
Distraction: The use of external sounds to ‘mask’ the sounds of the tinnitus
Habituation: This is a treatment that helps the patient’s brain to reclassify the tinnitus. It will place the tinnitus noise as less critical and become actively ignored. This therapy is more potent over time.
Masking: Finding the right level of noise to partially or totally cover the tinnitus

Lifestyle changes

Tinnitus can also be exacerbated by certain lifestyle choices, whether it’s a hobby or your diet. If you are experiencing tinnitus, your audiologist may recommend the following lifestyle alterations to lessen your symptoms:

Find the right audiologist for your needs

When it comes to finding relief for tinnitus, there are many choices available. That’s why it’s important you find the right audiologist to address your needs, whether it’s a treatment for tinnitus or a simple hearing test. At Allison Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, P.C., our audiologist is skilled at pairing patients with the solutions that provide them relief. You can call our team today at Houston: 713-827-1767

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Dr. Jana Emola-Austin, Au.D

Dr. Jana Emola-Austin, Au.D

Doctor of Audiology

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Jana Emola-Austin discovered her passion for audiology while pursuing graduate studies at the University of North Texas. As owner of Allison Audiology, she's dedicated to improving patients' lives through better hearing and innovative technology. Outside the office, Jana enjoys time with her family, two dogs, cooking, and coastal getaways along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Schedule a Custom Hearing Protection Consultation

Protecting your ears from noise-induced hearing loss or swimmer’s ear helps ensure that you can avoid the damage caused at work, during recreational activities, and other lifestyle events that lead to hearing challenges later in life. Allison Audiology and Hearing Aids Center can help keep you hearing better for as long as possible with customized hearing protection that provides the comfort and protection you need.

Submit the adjacent form to make an appointment with us at the Houston hearing center nearest you to find out how our comfortable, effective hearing protection can help safeguard your hearing while enhancing your auditory experience.

Schedule a Custom Hearing Protection Consultation

Protecting your ears from noise-induced hearing loss or swimmer’s ear helps ensure that you can avoid the damage caused at work, during recreational activities, and other lifestyle events that lead to hearing challenges later in life. Allison Audiology and Hearing Aids Center can help keep you hearing better for as long as possible with customized hearing protection that provides the comfort and protection you need.

Submit the adjacent form to make an appointment with us at the Houston hearing center nearest you to find out how our comfortable, effective hearing protection can help safeguard your hearing while enhancing your auditory experience.

Schedule a Custom Hearing Protection Consultation

Protecting your ears from noise-induced hearing loss or swimmer’s ear helps ensure that you can avoid the damage caused at work, during recreational activities, and other lifestyle events that lead to hearing challenges later in life. Allison Audiology and Hearing Aids Center can help keep you hearing better for as long as possible with customized hearing protection that provides the comfort and protection you need.

Submit the adjacent form to make an appointment with us at the Houston hearing center nearest you to find out how our comfortable, effective hearing protection can help safeguard your hearing while enhancing your auditory experience.

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  • Our first time visiting your office. Everyone was so professional; clean office; state of the Art equipment; great hearing aid presentation and invaluable advice.

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    2 months ago

  • I had an incredible experience at this hearing test center! The staff were professional, kind, and very knowledgeable. From the moment I walked in

    Naqibullah A

    2 weeks ago

Our Happy Patients Say

  • Dr Arceneaux very knowledgeable. Answer all my question and replace a wire on my hearing aid that was defective.

    Anna G

    2 weeks ago

  • Dr. Moder was a gem from start to finish. I felt like my concerns were being heard and that my past experiences were validated.

    Conrad M

    1 month ago

  • Our first time visiting your office. Everyone was so professional; clean office; state of the Art equipment; great hearing aid presentation and invaluable advice.

    Beth R

    2 months ago

  • I had an incredible experience at this hearing test center! The staff were professional, kind, and very knowledgeable. From the moment I walked in

    Naqibullah A

    2 weeks ago

Our Happy Patients Say

  • Dr Arceneaux very knowledgeable. Answer all my question and replace a wire on my hearing aid that was defective.

    Anna G

    2 weeks ago

  • Dr. Moder was a gem from start to finish. I felt like my concerns were being heard and that my past experiences were validated.

    Conrad M

    1 month ago

  • Our first time visiting your office. Everyone was so professional; clean office; state of the Art equipment; great hearing aid presentation and invaluable advice.

    Beth R

    2 months ago

  • I had an incredible experience at this hearing test center! The staff were professional, kind, and very knowledgeable. From the moment I walked in

    Naqibullah A

    2 weeks ago

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