Tinnitus Management

That persistent ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears isn't imaginary - it's tinnitus, and you're far from alone in experiencing it. This phantom sound affects approximately 50 million Americans, with over 20 million people dealing with chronic symptoms that interfere with daily activities, sleep, and concentration.

At Miramar Beach Audiology Associates, we understand how frustrating tinnitus can be and offer comprehensive management strategies to help reduce its impact on your quality of life. While there's no cure for tinnitus, effective treatment options can provide significant relief.

Understanding Your Tinnitus

Tinnitus manifests differently for each person. Some hear high-pitched ringing, while others experience buzzing, clicking, roaring, or even musical sounds. These phantom sounds may be constant or intermittent, affecting one or both ears with varying intensity throughout the day.

Around 80-90% of tinnitus cases occur alongside hearing loss. When inner ear hair cells become damaged, they may send false signals to the brain that register as sound. This connection explains why many people first notice tinnitus after exposure to loud noise, during hearing changes, or as part of the natural aging process.

Tinnitus can also result from earwax blockages, certain medications, head injuries, or medical conditions affecting blood flow. Understanding the potential cause of your tinnitus helps us develop the most appropriate management approach.

Our Tinnitus Management Options

• Hearing Aid Treatment - For patients with both hearing loss and tinnitus, properly fitted hearing aids often provide dual benefits by improving hearing while masking tinnitus sounds with amplified environmental audio

• Sound Therapy - Specialized devices that generate soothing sounds to help mask tinnitus and retrain your brain's response to the phantom sounds, making them less noticeable over time

• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy - A comprehensive approach combining sound therapy with counseling to help reduce your brain's attention to tinnitus sounds and emotional reactions to them

• Lifestyle Counseling - Guidance on stress management, sleep hygiene, and relaxation techniques that can reduce tinnitus intensity and improve your overall coping strategies

The Hearing Loss Connection

Since most tinnitus occurs with hearing loss, addressing both conditions simultaneously often provides the best outcomes. Modern hearing aids include advanced features specifically designed for tinnitus relief, such as built-in sound generators and customizable masking programs.

When we use Real Ear Measurements to properly program hearing aids for your specific hearing loss, the improved audibility of environmental sounds often naturally masks tinnitus. Many patients report significant tinnitus relief simply from wearing well-fitted hearing aids that restore access to everyday sounds.

For patients with tinnitus but normal hearing, specialized sound therapy devices can provide similar masking benefits without traditional amplification.

Find Relief from Your Tinnitus

Living with persistent tinnitus doesn't have to define your daily experience. Dr. Mandy Rounseville-Norgaard combines over 15 years of audiology expertise with a compassionate understanding of how tinnitus affects your well-being and relationships.

Contact Miramar Beach Audiology Associates today to schedule your tinnitus evaluation. Together, we'll develop a personalized management plan to help reduce your tinnitus symptoms and restore your peace of mind.