Question:
A neighbor friend of mine recently returned from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He says he has ringing in his ears all the time. Will this go away?
Answer:
Ringing in the ears is called "tinnitus." Hearing loss from loud noises (noise-induced hearing loss) is a common cause of tinnitus, so it's important to have a complete hearing evaluation by an audiologist. Most people learn to tune it out over time, but here are some ideas that can be helpful:
- Gentle background noise (sound machines, fans, soft music, running water, etc.) helps make tinnitus less annoying. Try out a few and find the type of sound that works best for you.
- If you have a hearing loss, hearing aids can help mask the tinnitus while also improving hearing.
- Loud sounds, nicotine, caffeine, and stress can make tinnitus worse.
- If you cannot adjust to tinnitus on your own, seek help from a medical professional.
Posted on BrainLine June 10, 2009.
About the author: Janet Brown, MA, CCC-SLP
Janet Brown, MA, CCC-SLP spent twenty years in practice at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. She is the former director of Health Care Services at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Comments (1)
Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
I got hit by an atv and was in a terrible car accident this is so help full