Tinnitus Treatment in Ambler, PA

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus means hearing sounds that aren’t actually there. These phantom noises are created internally by your brain and nervous system.  It is not a disease itself, but a symptom that something is happening within your ear, your auditory nerve, or the parts of your brain that process sound.

Inside your inner ear are thousands of tiny delicate hair cells that turn sound waves into electrical signals for your brain. When these hair cells get damaged or stressed, they can leak random signals to your brain, causing it to hear continuous or off-and-on noise.

Tinnitus Types

• Subjective Tinnitus: The most common type. Only you can hear the sound.
• Objective Tinnitus: A rare type of tinnitus where a doctor can actually hear the sound using a stethoscope. This is usually caused by blood flow issues or muscle twitches in the ear.

What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Tinnitus?

Tinnitus can develop slowly over many years or start suddenly after a single event. Finding out what caused it helps Dr. Larner figure out the best way to manage it.

Common Causes

• Loud Noise Exposure: Listening to loud music through headphones, going to concerts, or working around heavy machinery without ear protection.
• Aging: Natural wear and tear on your inner ear hair cells as you get older.
• Earwax Blockages: A buildup of earwax can trap pressure and sound inside your ear canal.
  Certain Medications: Very high doses of aspirin, specific antibiotics, or certain cancer medications can temporarily or permanently irritate the inner ear.
• Head or Neck Injuries: Physical trauma to the head, neck, or jaw joint (TMJ) can alter the nerves connected to hearing.

Risk Factors

• Being in Loud Environments: Working in construction, manufacturing, or the military without earplugs.
• Age: Older adults are more likely to experience inner ear changes.
• Cardiovascular Health: High blood pressure or narrow blood vessels can alter blood flow near the ear, causing pulsing tinnitus sounds.

What are the Symptoms of Tinnitus?

The main symptom of tinnitus is hearing phantom noises in one or both ears. The volume can range from a soft background whisper to a loud, distracting roar.

Common Sounds

• Ringing or buzzing
• Hissing or whistling
• Clicking or ticking
• Swooshing or beating (often in rhythm with your heartbeat)

Secondary Symptoms

When tinnitus is constant, it can lead to other daily challenges, such as:

• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling frustrated, anxious, or stressed
• Sensitivity to everyday sounds

How is Tinnitus Diagnosed?

Dr. Sean Larner will perform a few tests to find out what might be causing the sound. These may include:

• Physical Ear Exam: Checking inside your ear canal for wax, fluid, or infection.
• Hearing Test: Sitting in a quiet booth with headphones to test how well you hear different tones and words.
• Sound Matching: Adjusting sound frequencies to match the exact pitch and volume of your tinnitus.
• Imaging Tests: If tinnitus is only in one ear or pulses with your heartbeat, the doctor may order an MRI or CT scan to inspect the nerves and blood vessels.

What are the Treatment Options For Tinnitus?

While there is no single cure for common tinnitus, there are several proven ways to lower the volume, reduce distress, and help your brain tune out the noise.