How to Tell if You Have Tinnitus

a woman experiencing slight ear discomfort

If you think that you have tinnitus, then you might be slightly confused. Self-diagnosing is never a good thing to do, but you still need to be aware of what the symptoms are. You need to know what you are looking for to recognize the time to go and seek medical help. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that you can tell if you have tinnitus, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Sounds in your ears

The most common symptom of tinnitus is hearing sounds in your ears that aren’t caused by outside sources. For example, the most common sound that people experiencing tinnitus complain of is ringing, but it could also be whooshing, buzzing, humming, hissing and a range more. It isn’t always easy to know that tinnitus is what it is, which is why you should leave the actual diagnosis down to the professionals.

It is also essential to understand that for it to be tinnitus, the sound has to be constant. If it comes and goes, this is known as temporary tinnitus and is a sign that you are not properly looking after your hearing health. If you are experiencing temporary tinnitus right now, then you should start making some changes sooner rather than later.

How is tinnitus treated?

There are several ways that tinnitus can be treated, but it is also important to understand that tinnitus cannot be cured. One of the treatments for tinnitus is that you can use hearing aids with a masking feature to try and cover the tinnitus sound. Some people find this very effective, and others find that it doesn’t work for them. It is all about the individual, rather than going for a one shoe fits all kind of approach.

Another treatment for tinnitus is that you can have an earwax removal as that might be causing the issue. Again, it won’t fix the problem, but it could help relieve some of the symptoms you are experiencing. Or, tinnitus retraining therapy is something else that you can look into to find out whether or not it’s for you.

When should you seek help?

If you think that you have tinnitus, then you should seek help from your audiologist. They will be able to give you a hearing test to determine the level of hearing loss, which is an important part of the process. If tinnitus starts to impact your life in any way and you have been putting off help, now is the time to get it.

We hope that you have found this article helpful and now see some ways to tell if you have tinnitus. Ideally, you should speak to your audiologist if you think that you have tinnitus, and they will be able to give you directions on the best things to do, manage it and what your next steps are. Book an appointment today if you think that you have tinnitus.