Tinnitus can sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing or other noises that no one else can hear. For some people it comes and goes, while for others it’s more noticeable in quiet moments or at the end of a busy day.
Whatever you’re experiencing, it can become frustrating when it starts interfering with sleep, concentration or everyday conversations.
At Ears R Us Hearing Specialists, we’ll take the time to understand what you’re hearing, when you notice it most and how it’s affecting your daily life. From there, we’ll discuss management options and approaches based on your hearing needs and personal goals.
Signs of Tinnitus
While the most obvious sign is hearing a sound that no one else can hear, tinnitus often brings secondary changes to your routine. You might notice the noise becomes more noticeable at night when the room goes quiet, making it a bit harder to settle down for sleep.
It frequently causes temporary trouble concentrating or a heightened sensitivity to normal sounds. Recognizing these signs helps determine the right management plan.
Hearing Aids with Masking Features
Some hearing aids include built-in masking features for people with tinnitus. These features play soft background sounds through the hearing aids while they are being worn.
Many of the hearing aids we program include built-in masking features. These features play soft background sounds that are intended to make tinnitus less noticeable. We can customize these devices to match the exact pitch and volume of your specific symptoms for maximum comfort.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy combines sound therapy with counselling. During appointments, we talk about how tinnitus works and what you may notice as you adjust to treatment. Wearable sound generators produce low-level sounds that are used alongside counselling throughout the process.
Over time, the goal is for your brain to respond to tinnitus differently. The sound becomes more like other background noises that are present but don’t always draw your attention.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is a highly effective way to manage ringing in the ears, even if your overall hearing is perfectly normal. This method introduces gentle external sounds through white noise machines, tabletop fountains or smartphone apps to break the silence that makes tinnitus stand out.
Adding these soft background layers, our team help reduce the sharp contrast between a quiet room and the internal noise. This gives your mind a pleasant alternative to focus on, making the ringing much less noticeable throughout the day.