Tinnitus is common in Plano. About one in five Texas residents experiences a ringing or other sensation in one or both ears. For some it’s barely noticeable, but others perceive it as a full-time distraction that impacts their quality of life. For these people, living with tinnitus can be challenging – but we have a few tips that can help ease your suffering.
Side Effects of Tinnitus
Whether tinnitus is an occasional nuisance or a constant bother, you are sure to experience at least a few side effects. People with tinnitus in Plano often deal with anxiety, stress and irritability, all of which can make symptoms worse. It’s a vicious circle that many find tough to break. The worse your tinnitus, the more of an impact it has on your life. Many find tinnitus interferes with sleep, causing daytime fatigue, memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Jobs and relationships can suffer.
There is no cure for tinnitus, but we have compiled some “life hacks” that should make living with a ringing in your ears more bearable.
- High-fidelity earplugs. Tinnitus may be mild at first but can progress over time. This makes preserving your remaining hearing a top priority. Be cognizant of the damage noise causes and protect your hearing by wearing earplugs whenever you participate in activities where harmful noise levels are likely to occur. Earplugs sold in drugstores do offer protection, but they cause sounds to appear distorted or muffled. High-fidelity earplugs solve this problem by utilizing filters that reduce decibel levels evenly across the hearing spectrum. This allows you to participate in conversations more easily and enjoy music. One-size-fits-all high-fidelity earplugs can be purchased online or in select retail stores, but you’ll receive better protection, not to mention a more comfortable fit, with custom earplugs crafted from molds of your ear canals. Your Plano audiologist can do this for you. Custom earplugs will cost a bit more, but can you really put a price tag on preserving your hearing?
- White noise. Many people with tinnitus in Plano utilize white noise therapy as a way to mask, or cover up, the ringing in their ears. White noise is a random assortment of sounds with flat spectral density throughout the audible frequency range; because there are so many different frequencies being employed, white noise is great at masking other sounds – including tinnitus. You can find white noise machines that offer falling rain, ocean waves and other ambient sounds at many specialty retailers or download an app for your smartphone – a wide variety are available for both iPhone and Android users. Or simply switch on an air-conditioner or fan to achieve the same effect. For the best results, set your white noise volume a little lower than the ringing in your ears; partial masking can help your brain habituate more easily and make your tinnitus less noticeable.
- Assemble a tinnitus kit. Tinnitus tends to be unpredictable, worse at certain times and less noticeable during others. In order to be prepared for any possibility when heading out, put together a “tinnitus kit” containing supplies that will help you cope with tinnitus when your symptoms come on strong. Include items such as medications, earplugs, earbuds or headphones and hearing aids. Include a list of emergency contacts and be sure to add your Plano audiologist’s information.
For more strategies on managing tinnitus symptoms, contact your Plano hearing specialist.
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