Q&A

Subject: Ringing in the ears

From: HH

I have had ringing in my ears for the last 15-16 years. Every Doctor I've seen has told me that it is called tinnitus and that there is nothing that can be done about it. Is this true?

I ask this question because it interferes with my life on a daily basis. I can hardly hear my daughter talk to me through the ringing in my ears. I cannot hear alarms, some telephones, or even my wife at times.

I was told while I was in the military, that I suffered from high frequency hearing loss. It seems that it varies day by day what I can hear, depending on how loud the ringing in my ears is. If you have any Ideas on anything that might work, I would really appreciate it. Sincerely, HH

The tinnitus that you hear is usually the consequence of hearing loss. Service in the military is frequently a cause of hearing loss due to exposure to excessively loud sound. You may wish to check with your Veterans' Affairs Office to see whether you qualify for assistance through one of their programs.

Many times folks with tinnitus find that the use of a hearing aid (two if you have loss in both ears) can bring in the sounds of life so that you are not so aware of the ringing, and besides, you will hear people talking and those important everyday sounds like the phone ringing and such.

At night, many people find that playing a radio between stations so that you have just a steady static helps to cover up the head noises so they can sleep more soundly. There are also special devices called "tinnitus maskers" which produce a steady sound to help cover the head noises.

There is a tinnitus clinic at The University of Maryland in Baltimore, where individuals are taught techniques for coping with tinnitus on a day to day basis. There is also a National Tinnitus Association where individuals with tinnitus offer education and support to each other. Perhaps there is a chapter in your area. Try checking with the VA to see if you qualify for their services.
GOOD LUCK!
Solveig