Tinnitus test: Free online testing

Directions: Grab a piece of paper and a pen to record your answers. Then answer the following questions with either a yes or no.

1. Have you had extended exposure to loud or noisy environments either recently or in the past?
2. Do you regularly experience hypertension and/or stress?
3. Do you consume large amounts of caffeine or nicotine?
4. Do you regularly experience moments or prolonged periods of hearing ringing or buzzing in your ears?
5. Do you find it difficult to concentrate, carry conversations or even sleep due to ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears?

Evaluate your results. If you answered yes to any of the questions above, consider consulting with a hearing care professional (HCP) to have your tinnitus symptoms formally evaluated and determine which options may be most effective in delivering relief.

If you’re not ready for a formal evaluation, read on to learn about treatments and tinnitus exercises you can do at home. And, remember, the hearing care professionals at your local Miracle-Ear are always here to help!

Not all people with tinnitus have hearing loss, and not all those with hearing loss have tinnitus. But hearing loss and tinnitus are often linked. In fact, according to the Hearing Health Foundation, 90 percent of people who deal with tinnitus symptoms also experience some level of hearing loss. Tinnitus can even be an early sign that your hearing is declining. While it’s not known why some people with hearing loss experience tinnitus and others don’t, an audiologist or HCP can help you figure out how to treat your symptoms.

While the cause of tinnitus is unclear, it’s generally symptomatic of an underlying condition. Potential tinnitus causes include:

• age-related hearing loss,
• damage to the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear,
• noise-induced hearing loss,
• ear injuries,
• ear wax or an ear infection,
• head or neck injuries,
• certain medications.

Since tinnitus causes vary, there aren’t any simple dos or don’ts for tinnitus prevention, and it’s sometimes the result of conditions that can’t be prevented. However, some tinnitus causes can be avoided with extra precautions.

• Limiting exposure to loud noises, turning down the volume and wearing proper ear protection in loud environments can help you avoid noise-induced hearing loss and associated tinnitus.
• Limiting caffeine, nicotine and alcohol intake can also help, as these substances all increase the risk of tinnitus.
• Taking care of your cardiovascular health through proper diet and exercise can help prevent tinnitus associated with blood vessel disorders.

Several types of tinnitus treatments and therapies can help you find some measure of relief from your symptoms. If your tinnitus is caused by an underlying health condition, direct treatment of the condition may relieve tinnitus symptoms. This could include earwax removal, treating a vascular condition or changing medication.

Hearing aids are also a common treatment. Some hearing aids offer tinnitus therapies, which an HCP can help customize for your needs.

• Static noise therapy is designed to help distract you from your tinnitus symptoms.
• Ocean waves therapy has the same intent, but with the added benefit of promoting relaxation.
• Notch therapy is designed to teach your brain to ignore the ringing in your ears over several weeks or months. Set up within the hearing aid’s programming software, an HCP can fine-tune the settings to your personal needs, helping reduce the perception of tinnitus over time, without an additional audible sound like static or ocean waves.

Since tinnitus often causes an added degree of stress in a person’s life, relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy can help you manage your symptoms.