Tinnitus

In many cases, we can quiet the ringing in your ears

The perception of noise or ringing in the ears is a fairly common problem, affecting about one in five people. We understand how bothersome tinnitus can be. Although it usually isn't a sign of something serious, it can worsen with age. The key to treatment is finding the source of the problem. Nebraska Medicine's ear, nose and throat specialists will get to the root of it and help you manage your condition.

Learn Why Nebraska Medicine is the Place to Come When You Have Hearing or Ear-related Concerns

We have the experience and expertise to get to the root of your problem.

Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder. To treat your tinnitus, our specialists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to identify any underlying, treatable condition that may be associated with your symptoms. If tinnitus is due to a health condition, our specialists may be able to take steps to reduce the noise.

Examples include:

Earwax Removal

Removing impacted earwax can reduce tinnitus symptoms.

Treating a Blood Vessel Condition

If you have an underlying vascular condition, our doctors may recommend medication, surgery or another treatment to resolve the problem.

Changing Your Medication

Sometimes a medication may be the cause of tinnitus. If this is the case, our doctors may recommend stopping or reducing the drug, or switching to a different medication.

When tinnitus can not be completely resolved, your doctor may suggest using an electronic device to suppress the noise.

Devices included:

White Noise Machines

These are devices that produce simulated environmental sounds such as falling rain or ocean waves and can help alleviate tinnitus. Other things like fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners can help mask tinnitus at night.

Hearing Aids

These can be effective if you have hearing problems as well as tinnitus.

Masking Devices

These are devices that are worn in the ears and produce a continuous, low-level white noise to help suppress ringing in the ears.

Tinnitus Retraining

This involves using a wearable device that provides a programmed tonal music to mask the individual frequencies of your tinnitus.