The ringing of tinnitus is annoying whether you only hear it periodically or all of the time. Annoying may not be the best word. Makes-you-want-to-bash-your-head-against-the-desk infuriating and downright frustrating might be better. That noise that you can’t get rid of is a problem no matter how you decide to describe it. What can you do, though? Is even possible to prevent that ringing in your ears?

Why do You Have Tinnitus And What Exactly Causes it?

Begin by learning more about the condition that is responsible for the ringing, clicking, buzzing, or roaring you hear. It’s estimated as much as 10 percent of the U.S. population experiences tinnitus, which is the medical term for that ringing. But why?

Tinnitus is a symptom of something else, not a condition in and of itself. Loss of hearing is often the main cause of tinnitus. Hearing loss often comes along with tinnitus as a side effect. Why tinnitus happens when there is a change in a person’s hearing is still unclear. The latest theory is the brain creates the noise to fill a void.

Thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of sounds are encountered each day. There is talking, music, car horns, and the TV, as an example, but those are just the noticeable noises. How about the spinning of the blades on the ceiling fan or the sound of air blowing into a vent. Your brain decides you don’t really need to hear these sounds.

It’s “normal” for your brain to hear these sounds, is the point. Now, what happens if you shut half of those sounds off? Confusion occurs in the portion of the brain that hears sound. Your brain knows the sound should be there so it’s possible that it produces the sounds connected with tinnitus to compensate.

Tinnitus has other possible causes as well. It can be attributed to severe health problems like:

• Acoustic neuroma, a tumor that grows on the cranial nerve
• Atherosclerosis
• Meniere’s disease
• Head or neck tumors
• High blood pressure
• Turbulent blood flow
• A reaction to medication
• Head or neck trauma
• Temporomandibular disorders (TMJ)
• Poor circulation

Any of these can cause tinnitus. After an injury or accident, even though you can hear fine, you might experience this ringing. It’s essential to get get a hearing exam to determine why you have tinnitus before looking for other ways to deal with it.

What to do About Tinnitus

You can figure out what to do about it after you find out why you have it. Sometimes, the only thing that helps is to give the brain what it wants. You need to make some sound if your tinnitus is caused by lack of it. It doesn’t need to be very much, something as basic as a fan running in the background might generate enough sound to switch off the ringing.

A white noise generator is a kind of technology that is designed for this purpose. They simulate relaxing natural sounds like rain falling or ocean waves. Some have pillow speakers, so you hear the sound when you sleep.

Getting hearing aids is also a good option. The sounds the brain is looking for can be turned up using quality hearing aids. Hearing aids normalize your hearing enough that the brain no longer needs to create phantom noise.

A combination of tricks works the best for most people. For example, you might use a white noise generator at night and hearing aids during the day.

If the tinnitus is more severe and soft sounds won’t work there are also medications that you can get. Medications such as Xanax and possibly other antidepressants can quite this noise.

Lifestyle Changes to Handle Your Tinnitus

It will also be helpful if you make a few lifestyle modifications. Figuring out if there are triggers is a good place to begin. When the tinnitus starts, note what’s happening and write it down in a log. Be specific:

• Did you just take medication even over-the-counter products like Tylenol?
• Are you smoking or drinking alcohol?
• Is there a particular sound that is triggering it?
• What did you just eat?
• Did you just drink a soda or a cup of coffee?

You will start to see the patterns that induce the ringing if you record the information very accurately. You should find ways to relax such as biofeedback, exercise, and meditation because stress can also be responsible.

An Ounce of Prevention

The best way to get rid of tinnitus is to protect against it from the beginning. Begin by doing everything you can to protect your hearing like:

• Turning the volume down on everything
• Wearing ear protection when you’re going to be around loud noises
• Not wearing earbuds or headphones when listening to music
• Taking care of your cardiovascular system

If you have high blood pressure, take your medication. Eat right and exercise as well. To rule out treatable issues that increase your risk of hearing loss and tinnitus, schedule a hearing exam with a hearing professional.