An occasional hiss or a brief ringing in your ears is easy to ignore. Advanced Hearing Plus evaluates exactly how your auditory system is reacting and what is triggering those sounds.
It is natural to blame a loud room or a stressful day at first, but when that internal noise becomes a constant backdrop, your brain is burning extra energy just trying to filter out the distraction. Our audiologists use precise testing to pinpoint the source of the phantom noise and build a plan to help you regain a sense of quiet.
How Tinnitus Impacts Hearing Loss
More people with tinnitus also have some hearing loss than you might think. The two are connected. When the ears aren’t delivering clear signals to the brain, the brain can start generating sound on its own to make up the difference.
This correlation is why a comprehensive hearing test is a vital first step in addressing the issue. Addressing muffled hearing frequently brings noticeable relief from the phantom sounds as well.
Common Triggers and Root Causes
Tinnitus isn’t a condition on its own; it’s your body’s way of signaling that something has changed. Our audiologists work to pinpoint what’s driving it, whether it’s temporary or needs more attention.
The most frequently observed causes include:
- Loud noise exposure: Damage to the hair cells in the inner ear from power tools, firearms, concerts or workplace machinery
- Earwax blockages: Hardened wax or debris that plugs the ear canal and affects internal pressure
- Natural aging: Gradual changes in the auditory nerve that come with time
- Medication side effects: Certain prescriptions, high doses of aspirin or specific antibiotics can trigger or worsen ringing
- Medical conditions: Circulatory issues, head or neck injuries, jaw joint disorders and conditions like Meniere’s disease
The list is long because tinnitus shows up for a lot of different reasons. Finding yours is where we start.
Hearing Aids and Masking Features
Hearing aids offer a dual-benefit solution for individuals dealing with both hearing loss and ringing ears. These devices amplify external conversations and environmental sounds, making it much easier to ignore the internal noise.
This programming delivers subtle background tones directly into the ear canal to draw your brain’s attention away from the tinnitus. We can customize these devices to match the exact pitch and volume of your specific symptoms for maximum comfort.
Sound Therapy and Retraining Methods
Tinnitus is almost always worse in a quiet room. Sound therapy works by giving your brain something else to process, whether that’s a white noise machine or an app on your phone. It doesn’t fix the ringing, but it stops silence from making it worse.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) takes this concept a step further by combining sound generators with directed counseling. Your brain learns to filter out the noise automatically, much like it ignores the hum of a refrigerator or air conditioner.
Long-Term Management and Support
Successfully managing tinnitus often requires lifestyle adjustments alongside treatments. Finding ways to reduce high stress levels, improve sleep habits and limit excessive caffeine intake can help to lessen tinnitus.
Stress and noise exposure can both make tinnitus worse, so we talk through those too. Follow-up visits give us a chance to see how things are going and make adjustments as needed.