Acuity Hearing Center - Paris, TX   map 903-784-8637
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ABOUT TINNITUS

A frequent side-effect of injury to the ear is a spontaneous ringing, buzzing, whooshing or other noise. This is called tinnitus (pronounced /ti - nuh - tus/) and is a sound that is generated in the nerve pathways of the auditory system.

Tinnitus is a very common condition affecting an estimated 50 million people in the United States alone. It is one of the most commonly reported conditions by U.S. military veterans. It may be caused by a variety of things, including:

  • Hearing loss
  • Repeated, prolonged exposure to noise at hazardous levels (see our hearing loss prevention page for more on this)
  • A single instance of extreme noise, such as blast exposure
  • Physical trauma to the head, particulary to the side
  • Diseases of the ear, including ear infections, otoschlerosis and Meniere's Disease
  • Certain drugs which are toxic to the ears
  • Sudden change in air pressure

Tinnitus symptoms range from an occasional mild nuisance for some people to a constant, life-altering sound for others. There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but therapies are available to help people who are truly bothered by tinnitus.

If you experience tinnitus in only one ear or tinnitus started after a motor vehicle accident or recent injury to your head or neck, see a physician immediately as this may indicate a more severe medical condition.

Children have tinnitus, too! Recent research indicates that approximately 1/3 of children experience tinnitus at some point while growing up. 1 in 30 children have chronic, bothersome tinnitus that interferes with activities of daily life, including learning. That is nearly one child per classroom!

Tinnitus may be mistaken for attention deficit disorder or a behavior problem. This is because children with bothersome tinnitus may have difficulty focusing on classroom activities and attending to instruction. Tinnitus can be distracting and interfere with listening, but is poorly understood by most teachers and healthcare providers. Children also often lack the proper language to communicate what they are hearing. If this sounds like your child or someone you know, parents or teachers should sit down with the child in a safe, supportive, and understanding manner and ask whether the child hears a sound even when everything in the room is quiet. If you suspect your child has tinnitus, schedule an appointment today to get help.

We can conduct a thorough evaluation of your child's hearing and determine what needs he or she may have. Through child-friendly guided counseling and sound therapy, we can help prevent tinnitus from holding your child back.

Not all sounds you may hear are tinnitus.
True tinnitus is neurological in origin. However, you may hear sounds from other body functions, some of which may indicate problems that need help. True tinnitus may also be an indication of another problem that needs attention. Here are a few of the common sounds people hear and what you should do:
There is help available! If tinnitus is preventing you from enjoying life, schedule an appointment today and find out how we can help.
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