Tinnitus isn’t a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying problem. Tinnitus may be caused by noise exposure, neurological damage, vascular disease or a brain injury, or it may be the result of taking certain medications.
Tinnitus is a pesky ringing, roaring, humming, hissing, clicking, whistling or whooshing sound with no external source.
Though tinnitus is common – affecting approximately 50 million Americans – everyone experiences it differently. It can affect one ear or both and range from a mild nuisance to a debilitating experience.
Here are some tinnitus management tips that Dr. Booth often shares with her patients:
- Use a sound generator/app to listen to soothing sounds. There are several apps available online. Dr. Booth recommends ReSound Relief and Widex Zen.
- Use meditation and progressive relaxation to stay calm and relaxed.
- Practice deep breathing.
- Find an image that you like of a relaxing environment (a stream, a country road, a beautiful mountain, etc.) and imagine yourself in that environment. What do you smell, hear, feel and see?