Ringing in your ears can be a reminder of a fun night at a concert. It can also be a chronic problem that causes aggravation and difficulty navigating everyday social interactions. For some people, the ringing is constant and encompassing. For others, it can come and go, or even exist in just one ear. What makes this most difficult for some people is that it can even seem to drown out everyday sounds.

At NYHD, we understand that ringing in your ears can be an obstacle in achieving the quality of life you want. It can cause emotional turmoil, disrupting your work, social life, and sleep. When you can’t get the rest you need, it can have a large impact on your overall health and wellbeing. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to live with it. Our Doctors of Audiology have over two decades of experience working in the world of tinnitus. We understand how to properly evaluate tinnitus have deep knowledge of the methods and technologies available to manage it.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a common symptom where you perceive sound in your ears or head, even when there’s no external sound causing it. This is often perceived as a ringing or buzzing sound that can have a range of loudness or pitch. It can also come and go at different times or environments. There are many different causes of tinnitus, from hearing loss to health concerns like nervous system disorders, inner ear disorders, TMJ and cervical spine contributions, and head injury or concussion. Tinnitus can be assessed by a Doctor of Audiology. While there’s no cure for tinnitus, you can use time-tested and clinically verified therapies, technologies, and lifestyle changes to find relief.

Tinnitus Assessment FAQs

Can a virus cause tinnitus?

Congestion from common viruses like the cold or flu can often cause ear ringing. This pressure is usually temporary.

Can tinnitus be a sign of something serious?

Although most tinnitus is not caused by a serious underlying condition, it's still important to rule out any possibilities. Tinnitus may be caused by undiagnosed growths, injuries, or cardiovascular conditions, so your Doctor of Audiology will take a complete picture of your health history.

Can using Q Tips cause tinnitus?

In some cases, using cotton swabs (Q Tips) can cause ear wax to become impacted against the eardrum, leading to tinnitus or infection.

Can you stop tinnitus from getting worse?

Yes, by getting a tinnitus assessment, we can help identify the causes and potential treatments for your tinnitus to prevent it from becoming a debilitating part of your life.

Can tinnitus be harmful?

Untreated tinnitus can lower your quality of life by causing extra stress, fatigue, problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and mental health concerns like depression and anxiety.

Can tinnitus cause memory problems?

Yes, tinnitus has been recorded as an association with decreased cognitive ability, including attention and memory.

Are there ear drops for tinnitus?

Ear drops are available over-the-counter for relieving impacted earwax, which can be a common cause of tinnitus. It's best to always check with your Doctor's Audiology before using ear drops.

Can tinnitus stop you sleeping?

As many as half of patients with tinnitus experience problems sleeping, including difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking early, or chronic fatigue.

Does anything help tinnitus?

There are many factors to what may be causing tinnitus, from hearing loss to psychological trauma, and many different therapies or technologies can help reduce or eliminate your symptoms

Can tinnitus affect hearing test?

Yes. Tinnitus can make it more difficult to hear certain words and pitches, so make sure to let your Doctor of Audiology know about any ear ringing before you undergo an assessment.

Can tinnitus be cured?

It depends on the cause of the tinnitus. If the tinnitus is caused by a medical condition or medication, treating that condition or coming off that medication may cure the tinnitus. If tinnitus comes about on its own, there is no cure, but there are a variety of treatment options to help you manage the symptoms.

What tests are done as part of a tinnitus assessment?

At NYHD, our tinnitus assessment includes a number of basic hearing tests as well as a test to match the pitch and loudness of the ringing you’re hearing in your ears.

Can I treat my tinnitus at home?

With the Lenire at-home therapy, you can absolutely treat your tinnitus at home. Lenire is an FDA-approved therapy you can use to help retrain your brain to adapt to the symptoms of tinnitus. Our team at NYHD will help you get started with this unique treatment.

Can tinnitus cause hearing loss?

While tinnitus and hearing loss are often associated with each other, tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, and hearing loss does not cause tinnitus.

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Why is Tinnitus Assessment & Treatment Important?

Some people can live with tinnitus because it’s only a minor annoyance. For people who experience more significant tinnitus, it can affect their quality of life and ability to focus and sleep. In the long-term, tinnitus-sufferers can experience anxiety and depression because of the constant sound. This emotional turmoil can also exacerbate tinnitus.

If you experience chronic ringing, it’s important to seek out treatment because it can be a symptom of other medical problems. Tinnitus has been linked to certain lifestyle choices like alcohol use, smoking, poor diet, and caffeine. In turn, tinnitus can also be associated with things like Meniere’s Disease, circulatory concerns, allergies, diabetes, and thyroid conditions. If you consider professionally treating your tinnitus, we can explore your greater health history and any concerns that might be present.

Important Facts About Tinnitus

Millions of people of all ages across the United States are affected by tinnitus. While it’s most often a condition that’s experienced after the age of fifty, children, teenagers, and young adults can also be…

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What Can I Expect at NYHD?

To make sure your assessment and treatment are as accurate as they can be, it’s helpful to be able to describe your tinnitus to your Doctor of Audiology. We recommend that you write down some factors like when you experience it, when it’s loudest, how long it’s been happening, whether it changes, and any other descriptors or factors you can think of. We’ll ask more questions before beginning the assessment so we can get the best idea of your experience with tinnitus. It’s also important to discuss your medical history and your family’s since health concerns can cause your tinnitus. Then, we’ll inspect your ears and perform a number of standard hearing tests.

We can also perform tests that are specific to tinnitus. These include tests to match the pitch and loudness of the sound you’re experiencing since this can give us a better understanding of your symptoms and possible causes. These tests are perfectly painless and can be performed at our comfortable, private office. In addition to these varied hearing tests, we also spend time understanding the emotional and psychological factors in your life that may be contributing to the level of awareness of your tinnitus.

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How Can I Treat Tinnitus?

One of the most exciting new treatment options for tinnitus is Lenire, an evidence-based, at-home therapy that you use daily to help retrain your brain and adapt to tinnitus symptoms. It’s the first device of its kind to receive approval from the FDA for the treatment of tinnitus. Our Doctors of Audiology can help you get started.

Your management options for tinnitus will depend on things like its severity, its cause, and your lifestyle. We can recommend your best options from a variety of treatment options like hearing aids or various options for calculated sound therapy. We also use a multidisciplinary approach, including psychologists who can help manage the emotional triggers of tinnitus. Additionally, we can also recommend lifestyle changes (in collaboration with your physician) like avoiding certain medications, taking certain medications, or removing obstructions like earwax from your ears.

In many cases, treating your tinnitus can be a long-term undertaking. That’s okay— our Doctors of Audiology can help you through every step of finding the right solutions for you.

In The Media

American Council on Science and Health: Ringing In Your Ears? It’s All In Your Head.

Dr. Kasper was interviewed by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) all about tinnitus. It’s an issue that affects millions of people in the US, but it’s still a bit of a mystery, even to people who have it. In this interview, Dr. Kasper discusses tinnitus, how common it is, and how the brain is involved in hearing loss just as much as the ears are.

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The Lucas Rockwood Show: Tinnitus & Hearing Loss

Earlier this year, Dr. Kasper appeared on The Lucas Rockwood Show podcast to discuss hearing loss, tinnitus, and auditory health. They discussed how common tinnitus is, the new innovations in treating tinnitus (including virtual reality), and what to consider when looking into hearing aids. They also go over how important it is to seek medical help for hearing loss.

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Tinnitus Treatment FAQs

Can surgery get rid of tinnitus?

In some severe cases, surgery can achieve relief. However, it's best to try other methods of treatment first.

Do I have tinnitus or am I imagining it?

Talking to a doctor of audiology can help you determine whether youre experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus or are, for whatever reason, only imagining the sound.

Does drinking water help tinnitus?

There is little conclusive evidence that tinnitus is related to any specific food or drink, or that tinnitus is connected to dehydration.

What are coping skills for tinnitus?

Things like enhanced sound environment, meditation, or managing anxiety can be ways to cope with tinnitus. A Doctor of Audiology can help you pinpoint specific coping strategies based on your underlying causes.

Is there a link between dementia and tinnitus?

There is a link between dementia and tinnitus, although the exact relationship is unknown. It's thought that tinnitus can accelerate cognitive decline because of its impact on social wellness, mental health, and more.

Can the tinnitus go away?

Sometimes, tinnitus can resolve on its own. Other times, you'll only achieve relief with the help of your Doctor of Audiology.

What should you not do with tinnitus?

Exposure to loud noises can oftentimes exacerbate the symptoms of tinnitus. If you're normally exposed to noises like concerts, heavy machinery, or loud environments, make sure to consult a Doctor of Audiology about appropriate hearing protection.

Can a doctor hear my tinnitus?

While only you can experience your tinnitus, your Doctor of Audiology may be able to detect the cause if it's related to your cardiovascular system. Additionally, your Doctor of Audiology can match the pitch using specialized sound tests to get an idea of what might be causing it.

Can tinnitus be a sign of stroke?

Yes. If you have a sudden onset of tinnitus or a whooshing or swishing sound in your ears, you should see a medical professional as soon as possible.

Can ibuprofen help tinnitus?

In some cases, ibuprofen can worsen tinnitus. Make sure to talk with your Doctor of Audiology before taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

Does lying down make tinnitus worse?

Its possible that the change in pressure on your muscles and head can make tinnitus worse, as well as when trying to sleep, the lack of noise or distractions to keep your mind off the symptoms of tinnitus.

Can you go deaf from tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the result of an inner ear disorder, and is not the cause of hearing loss. Tinnitus and hearing loss can coexist, but are usually due to some third factor causing one or both conditions.

How do I train my brain to ignore tinnitus?

There are a number of strategies and tools to help. Lenire Neuromod is a new, first-of-its-kind device that can help rewire the brain to ignore tinnitus. At NYHD, we offer this at-home device and can help you get started.

Does sitting in silence help tinnitus?

Although the level of tinnitus rarely changes, silence can make tinnitus appear to be louder. For many people with tinnitus, it's best to have some low-level, unobtrusive noise in the background to provide a blanket of sound.

Can tinnitus last for years?

Yes, left untreated tinnitus can affect people for months or years, or even be permanent. This most often applies to those whose tinnitus is caused by dysfunction in the inner ear.

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Schedule a Consultation

Tinnitus can be extremely difficult to live with, especially when it seems like nothing helps. With a professional tinnitus assessment, we can create a customized treatment plan for you and your lifestyle. Your first step is scheduling a consultation with our Doctors of Audiology who can talk about your symptoms and perform tests to establish the right solutions for your tinnitus. To schedule a consultation, contact our New York City office by calling (212) 774-1971 or filling out our online form.