Thursday, November 3, 2011

Should I Get Help For the Ringing In My Ears?

Nothing is as scary as something that you don't understand.  Educating yourself about any condition is the first step to treating it.

Even though tinnitus usually begins with a hearing loss, the problem is not exclusive to the ears. It is the result of neurological mis-fires in the auditory system and within the parts of the brain that affect your conscious thoughts and emotions.

Every case of tinnitus is unique, but there are some commonly accepted explanations for its cause.

In our brains, there is neurological activity occurring all of the time. Normally, this activity is “masked” by everyday sounds.  When something happens to alter the natural balance of activity (such as a hearing loss, head trauma, etc…), the neurological activity is changed and the brain interprets this activity as sound. This could be a rustling, whistling or ringing sound—and it is this sound that it known as tinnitus.

50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, but only about 4% of those suffer badly enough to seek professional treatment.  This first step in treatment is an evaluation by an audiologist who will diagnose the problem and present treatment options and recommendations.

So how do you know if you are one of the 4% who should seek professional help?  Follow this link to take a simple online self evaluation.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule an evaluation with the ONLY clinic in the Intermountain West that is able to provide both Neuromonics and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, call 801-770-0801.

You can also sign up for our free education seminar on November 15th in Lehi, UT to have any questions answered and to hear about the latest treatment options.  RSVP by calling 801-770-0801.