Hearing & Balance Doctors

Can Tinnitus Really Be Treated?

Can Tinnitus Really Be Treated?

Can Tinnitus Really Be Treated?

by | Feb 7, 2020 | Patient Resources, Tinnitus

Is there any way to treat tinnitus? Yes, there are treatment options. However, there are also some illegitimate options that should be avoided.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, affects millions of Americans.

Tinnitus can be managed in a variety of ways. The accepted treatments for tinnitus are primarily management therapies.

Some physical conditions can cause tinnitus and can be cured. However, most drops/oils/pills that purport to be a cure should be treated with caution.

The most common treatment therapies include:

  • treating the underlying medical cause
  • sound therapy
  • tinnitus retraining therapy
  • progressive tinnitus management

The Best Way to Get Tinnitus Relief

Our clinic focuses on treating the underlying condition and sound therapy.

Tinnitus can be caused by earwax, sinus congestion, permanent hearing loss, and allergies. Treating the underlying condition may cure the tinnitus.

For example, earwax can be removed in our office. A comprehensive audiologic evaluation helps determine if an individual’s tinnitus may have an underlying cause that can be treated.

If the patient has a permanent hearing loss, hearing aids can treat the hearing loss and result in decreased tinnitus.

Sound therapy is the use of external sounds to stimulate the auditory system and change the patient’s reaction to and perception of her tinnitus.

Many hearing aids have forms of sound therapy. We offer solutions from all major hearing aid manufacturers. There is also a free app for smartphones that provides an effective form of sound therapy.

Tinnitus counseling is an important part of a treatment plan. We counsel and follow up regularly with all of our tinnitus patients.

Tinnitus is unique to each individual and requires a customized treatment plan. While no treatment plan has been shown to be 100% effective, the great majority of our patients find significant relief.

If you or a loved one is suffering from tinnitus, please call our clinic today at (435) 688-8991 to begin your tinnitus treatment plan.

 

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Dr. Ryan Whitaker

Dr. Whitaker joined Hearing & Balance Doctors of Utah in 2009. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brigham Young University in 2005 with his Bachelors of Science in Audiology and Speech Pathology. He then received his Doctor of Audiology from the University of Arizona where he minored in Cognitive Neuroscience (the study of how people perceive sound). While at the University of Arizona, he specialized in evoked potentials, specifically researching Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials and the Acoustic Change Complex. He gained clinical experience at Tucson Ear, Nose, and Throat; St. Joseph’s Hospital Balance Center; Arizona Hearing Specialists; and the Center for Hearing Impaired Children. Dr. Whitaker was raised in Orem, Utah with three older sisters and a younger brother (who is also an audiologist). His grandfather was a cartoonist for the Walt Disney Studios where he drew Donald Duck and many characters in Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland before starting the BYU Motion Picture Studio. Dr. Whitaker is married and has three sons. He is passionate about college football and also enjoys hiking in Southern Utah, reading, and traveling. He has traveled extensively through South Asia including Thailand, India, Nepal, and a church mission to the Philippines.

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