Are you Suffering from any of these symptoms as a result of Tinnitus? Call Today for a Consultation.

    Mild to severe anxiety
    Insomnia
    Triggered fight or flight

  Depression
  Negative thinking
  Crying spells

  Hopelessness
  Suicidal thoughts
  Ringing in the ears

Do you feel your family and friends don’t understand?
Are you growing more isolated?
Do you feel like life will never be the same?
Are you refraining from activities that you enjoy?
Are you fearful of losing your job?
Do you find that your thoughts tend to be negative?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions or symptoms, then we can help.

You may be a candidate for Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy, or TCRT.  Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, with over 20 years of clinical experience, a New York University graduate, developed Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy and founded Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in response to the growing number of Tinnitus sufferers coming to his private practice. He discovered that by helping people to retrain and reinterpret the thoughts around their Tinnitus, anxiety and depression symptoms began to improve. But even more important so did the Tinnitus.

Call us at (646) 213-2321 for a consultation.


See our main site: www.tinnituscognitivecenter.com
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Category Archives: Tinnitus

Understanding Tinnitus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

In this easy guide, we will delve into the intricacies of tinnitus, exploring its causes, symptoms, and a range of treatment options designed to provide relief and improve your quality of life. Tinnitus is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, yet its mechanisms and management remain widely misunderstood.

Tinnitus Causes Symptoms and Treatment

Tinnitus Causes Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is defined by the perception of sound when no external source is present. These phantom sounds can manifest as ringing, buzzing, humming, or even hissing and can occur in one or both ears. While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, it can affect individuals with normal hearing as well.

Common Causes of Tinnitus

Understanding the root causes of tinnitus is essential for effective management. Tinnitus can arise from a variety of factors, including:

Hearing Loss

One of the most prevalent causes, hearing loss, whether age-related or noise-induced, can lead to tinnitus.

Exposure to Loud Noise

Prolonged exposure to loud sounds or a single traumatic event can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear, triggering tinnitus.

Earwax Blockage

A build-up of earwax can obstruct the ear canal, leading to tinnitus symptoms.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions, such as Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, can contribute to tinnitus.

Medications

Some medications, particularly when taken in high doses or over long periods, may cause tinnitus as a side effect.

Common Symptoms of Tinnitus

top Tinnitus Treatment specialist 2024Tinnitus symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Common experiences include:

Phantom Sounds

Individuals with tinnitus often describe hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other noises that have no external source.

Intermittent or Continuous

Tinnitus can be intermittent, occurring at specific times or continuously, creating a constant presence in one’s perception.

Hearing Impairment

Tinnitus is frequently accompanied by hearing loss, although it can also affect individuals with normal hearing.

Emotional Distress

The emotional toll of tinnitus can be significant, leading to anxiety, stress, depression, and difficulty concentrating.

Treatment Options for Tinnitus

Finding relief from tinnitus involves addressing its underlying causes and managing its impact on your life. Several treatment options are available, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps individuals reframe their thoughts and emotional responses to tinnitus, reducing the distress it causes.

Cognitive Retraining Therapy (CRT)

CRT focuses on retraining the brain’s perception of sound, desensitizing it to the tinnitus noise.

Hearing Aids

For those with hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify external sounds, reducing the contrast between background noise and tinnitus.

Sound Therapy

Sound therapy uses white noise or other soothing sounds to mask or distract from tinnitus noise.

Lifestyle Modifications

Managing stress, reducing exposure to loud noises, and addressing underlying medical conditions can all contribute to tinnitus relief.

Tinnitus Causes Symptoms and Treatment: Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a challenging and distressing condition, but it is not insurmountable. By understanding its causes, recognizing its symptoms, and exploring a range of treatment options, you can take proactive steps towards finding relief and improving your quality of life. If you or a loved one are struggling with tinnitus, consider seeking guidance from a specialist like Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, who can provide expert advice and tailored treatment options to help you on your journey to quieter days and nights.

Contact Information

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

All sessions are conducted online.
Multiple languages spoken

Living with Tinnitus: Coping Strategies and Support Resources

In this blog post, we will explore some coping strategies and support resources for those living with tinnitus. Tinnitus is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It is a ringing, buzzing, or other noise in the ears that is not caused by an external sound. Living with tinnitus can be challenging, but there are ways to cope with the condition and find support.

Tinnitus Coping Strategies and Support Resources

Tinnitus Coping Strategies and Support Resources

Coping Strategies for Living with Tinnitus

Living with tinnitus can be overwhelming, but there are coping strategies that can help make the condition more manageable. Here are some tips:

Reduce Stress

Stress can make tinnitus worse, so it’s important to find ways to reduce stress in your life. This could include practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga, or engaging in regular exercise.

Avoid Loud Noises

Exposure to loud noises can aggravate tinnitus, so it’s important to avoid loud noises whenever possible. If you must be around loud noises, wear ear protection.

Avoid Stimulants

Stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine, can make tinnitus worse, so it’s important to avoid them if possible.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is important for overall health and can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. Try to establish a regular sleep routine and create a relaxing sleep environment.

Support Resources for Living with Tinnitus

Living with tinnitus can be challenging, but there are many support resources available for those who need them. Here are some examples:

Tinnitus Support Groups

Tinnitus support groups can be a valuable resource for those living with the condition. These groups provide an opportunity to connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with tinnitus and to share coping strategies.

Here is a random selection of tinnitus support groups from across the internet in 2023:

https://www.ata.org/your-support-network/find-a-support-group/
https://www.entnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TinnitusProOrganizationsTable11.pdf
https://www.facebook.com/TinnitusSupport/

Tinnitus Awareness – Tinnitus Support Group


https://tinnitus.org.uk/support-for-you/support-groups/

Tinnitus Coping Strategies

Tinnitus Associations and Organizations

There are many associations and organizations dedicated to tinnitus research and support. These organizations provide information, resources, and support to those living with tinnitus.

Tinnitus Treatment Specialists

Tinnitus treatment specialists, such as Stephen Geller Katz LCSW, can help those living with tinnitus manage their symptoms and find relief. Tinnitus treatment can include cognitive behavioral therapy, retraining therapy, and other techniques.

Tinnitus Coping Strategies and Support Resources

How Stephen Geller Katz LCSW Can Help

Stephen Geller Katz LCSW is a tinnitus treatment specialist who can help those living with tinnitus find relief. He offers cognitive behavioral therapy and retraining therapy to help patients manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Dr. Katz speaks 5 languages and all sessions are held online, making treatment accessible to anyone, anywhere.

Call today for a consultation and to learn more about tinnitus treatment options. Don’t suffer in silence – help is available. If you are living with tinnitus and are looking for support, contact:

Stephen Geller Katz LCSW
646-213-2321

What Is Tinnitus?

What is tinnitus? You might have heard a faint ringing in your ear after you were done listening to very loud music. Or perhaps after too many cups of coffee, you could hear a slight ringing in your ears. In both these situations, you are experiencing what is referred to as tinnitus.

What Is Tinnitus?
Source

While it may seem very concerning at first, tinnitus is complicated to understand since it often has underlying health conditions associated with it. Therefore, to better understand this condition, you will have to understand its underlying health concerns.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the ringing you hear in your ears, regardless of what you did beforehand. Whether the ringing results from you listening to music or an injury, they all fall under the broader category of tinnitus. However, it can also have varying categories where the symptoms on display can differ. Although rare, pulsatile tinnitus is a well know variant where the ringing is in sync with the individual’s heartbeat.

However, the sounds an individual hears do not necessarily have to be high pitched ringing. It can also resemble birds chirping, wind whistling, hissing, or buzzing. Furthermore, the noise that a person hears can either be loud or soft, which often depends on the severity of the condition.

How Serious Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is less a condition on its own and more akin to a sign pointing towards a more serious health condition. So even though very brief ringing after loud noises is never too serious, the ringing becoming too common could be a sign that you have an underlying health issue.

Tinnitus severity can also vary with each person, with some even unable to perform everyday tasks. It can affect their concentration and even lead to them developing other health issues such as depression and insomnia.

What Factors Cause Tinnitus?

It is important to understand that the ringing that most people with tinnitus experience is likely a sign of something more serious. Therefore, by understanding the factors that cause tinnitus, you can learn more about its treatment options.

Hearing Loss

Loss of hearing, whether it is because of loud noise or old age, often results in people developing tinnitus. This cause of tinnitus can be the most difficult to deal with, especially since there is no way to recover an individual’s hearing unless they wear a dedicated hearing aid.

Psychological Causes

Some experts contend that tinnitus is a purely psychological condition caused by various factors including trauma, PTSD, childhood events, and others. Read more about the potential psychological causes here.

Malformation of Blood Vessels

Another reason an individual could have tinnitus is an issue with the blood vessels surrounding their ears. Damage to the blood vessels in any way that restricts blood flow to the inner ear is enough to cause tinnitus in some cases.

Increase in Blood Pressure

Another major contributing factor to tinnitus is the increase in blood pressure. Whether the individual naturally has higher blood pressure or factors like caffeine, alcohol, and stress are increasing, they all can lead to tinnitus. Caffeine and alcohol can especially spike blood pressure levels, making them major triggers of this condition.

What Is Tinnitus | Causes Treatment
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Treatments for Tinnitus

Treatment for tinnitus is often multilayered, as physicians must also try their best to discover and treat the underlying health issue. Therefore, treatment options can sometimes include using devices to mask the sounds of tinnitus ringing or getting some combination of counseling and therapy. Cognitive therapies have proven extremely helpful in treating, and in some cases, curing tinnitus.

Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a deeply personal treatment, as individuals often struggle to describe the condition to others. You need to contact a professional when experiencing these symptoms.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center ™ in New York, has over 20 years of experience providing excellent Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT).

Call today to schedule a convenient online consultation.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Health Conditions Related to Tinnitus

Are there health conditions related to tinnitus? Despite being lesser known, nearly 50 million Americans are struggling with tinnitus. However, since people sometimes think that a faint ringing in their ear is fine or natural, less than half of those diagnosed will seek out help.

Health conditions related to tinnitus
Source

More importantly, tinnitus is often not the problem since it is more or less a signal that an underlying health condition needs your attention. To help educate people about the health conditions often related to tinnitus.

Common Types of Tinnitus

While tinnitus refers to the noise or ringing people can hear inside their ears, they often fall into two broader categories. These include subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus. The main difference between the two is that the subjective category is unique to the individual.

But as for objective tinnitus, a medical expert can hear noise in your ear using devices such as a stethoscope. An audiologist will likely perform the tests necessary to determine which category you have.

Each category can have unique causes, with objective tinnitus often resulting from severe muscle spasms. But as for the subjective type, it is more than likely that subjective tinnitus results from factors like aging or exposure to loud noise.

Health Conditions Related to Tinnitus

Tinnitus is often a sign that an individual has other, more serious health conditions for which they should get treatment. Here is a more detailed list of the medical conditions often related to tinnitus.

Diabetes

People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing tinnitus for various reasons. People with diabetes will already have trouble with their blood flow, which can make them significantly more susceptible to trouble with their hearing.

Elevated blood sugar levels can also lead to people developing tinnitus symptoms.

Higher Blood Pressure

Higher blood pressure can contribute to people developing tinnitus. Of course, it will still contribute to tinnitus if people have naturally higher blood pressure or are in situations where it is likely to rise.

Other factors that can increase blood pressure, such as caffeine and alcohol, are more than likely to spike blood pressure. And when it does, it is not uncommon for people to hear a ringing in their ears.

Ear Infections

If an individual has an ear infection, they are more than likely to have tinnitus. Since blood flow to the ears is restricted during an ear infection, the inner ear will likely develop tinnitus.

Autoimmune Disorders

Another serious health condition related to tinnitus is an autoimmune disease known as lupus. People struggling with autoimmune diseases will eventually lead to peripheral auditory dysfunction, which can lead to hearing a noise in their ears.

Health conditions related to tinnitus | TRT Treatment
Source

Hearing Loss

People who lose their hearing, whether due to old age or an accident, are most likely to develop tinnitus. The only treatment to deal with this condition is for the individual to get hearing aids to reduce tinnitus symptoms.

Sinus and the Common Cold

Along with various other conditions, tinnitus could signify that the individual has a sinus infection or the common cold. The blocked sinus can restrict blood flow to the ear, but this noise shouldn’t worry you since it is more likely to pass in some time.

Health Conditions Related to Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus is often a sign that there is another, more serious health condition that you need to get checked for. If the ringing in your ears persists for too long, you should visit a professional immediately.

Stephen Geller Katz at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ has over 20 years of experience providing excellent Tinnitus Retraining Therapy TRT.

Visit us in person or give us a call today for a consultation.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Tinnitus and Psychology: What’s the Relationship?

Is there a relationship between tinnitus and psychology? Tinnitus is a hearing condition in which the affected person perceives sounds that are unrelated to any external source. This means the sound does not acoustically exist in the outside world. Sufferers of tinnitus define tinnitus as a ringing in the ears. However, some others also experience different hyperboles such as whistling, chirping, buzzing, and in rare cases, even musical sounds.

Tinnitus and Psychology
(Source)

The symptoms of tinnitus vary from person to person in numerous ways. For instance, some people hear a distant noise while others claim the sound is present inside their heads. Not to mention, tinnitus can be constant or intermittent and pulsating or steady.

You should seek medical help if tinnitus starts disrupting your lifestyle.

Tinnitus and Psychology

Although it affects around 50 million people in the US alone, tinnitus has few therapeutic measures. In fact, none of the different treatment options can eliminate tinnitus. Hence, tinnitus is a serious concern that manifests co-morbid psychological stress.

According to various studies and surveys,

  • Affective disorders like depressive disorder are prevalent among people suffering from tinnitus. In fact, studies also reveal a correlation between the decrease in depressive and tinnitus symptoms.
  • Anxiety is also high in prevalence among people affected by tinnitus, alongside depression.
  • Personality disorders are also common among tinnitus patients. These include low self-control, type D personality, low psychological acceptance, high-stress reaction, and worsened well-being and social closeness.
  • Tinnitus patients also score high on psychoticism, hostility, and paranoid ideation.
  • Tinnitus also adversely affects executive attention and function, causing cognitive impairment. Affected people also take more time to process and give longer responses.
  • 42% of tinnitus patients also suffer from a somatoform disorder.
  • Insomnia is also common among tinnitus patients as tinnitus sounds become more noticeable at night.

Stress Caused by Tinnitus

By definition, stress is the result of physical or psychological conditions that threaten the normal function of the human body in any way. Usually, stress is associated with difficulty or inability to manage and control a situation. Frequently, experts see stress to be related to tinnitus and other health-related conditions.

Although tinnitus is the result of damage to the auditory system, emotional and psychological factors also prove a significant role. In fact, emotional and mental exhaustion and stress are strong indicators of how intense and severe tinnitus is for a particular person.

Not to mention, many patients also report that their tinnitus worsens during stressful situations. This evidence suggests that stress and tinnitus are related. In fact, statistics show a probable cause-and-effect relationship between the two.

According to observations, tinnitus patients present psychological distress before or during the onset of tinnitus. In fact, the findings of Gomaa et al. reveal that only 25 out of 100 tinnitus patients don’t experience stress.

Tinnitus and Psychology What's the Relationship?
(Source)

Tinnitus’ Impact on Quality of Life

Tinnitus largely impinges on an affected person’s quality of life. While some patients only complain about minor annoyance, tinnitus can also result in suicidal attempts in extreme cases. Not only this, but the hearing condition also impairs one’s lifestyle.

For example, you find it hard to focus on work and studies when there are constant ringing sounds in the ears. This results in reduced performance and poor productivity. On the other hand, not getting adequate amounts of sleep and resting properly can cause physical and mental exhaustion.

Not to forget, people also find it hard to hold conversations and interact with others around them due to this hearing condition. This, in turn, also causes emotional difficulties and disruption in social life.

Tinnitus and Psychology: Conclusion

If you think your tinnitus is causing mental health issues for you, you might want to consult a professional. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, possesses over 20 years of experience in the field. Visit our Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ or give us a call for a consultation.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321

Can Tinnitus Be Cured?

Can the sound disorder known as tinnitus be cured? Do you struggle with tinnitus? Is it affecting the way you sleep, work, and concentrate in your daily life? Experiencing tinnitus can be devastating for some. If you are among those suffering from the physical and mental issues that come with tinnitus, you might be looking for a cure.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured?
(Source)

Unfortunately, tinnitus remains on the list of incurable health issues and disorders. However, modern treatment options lower the impact and effect of serious tinnitus symptoms, which helps many people cope and ignore the tinnitus noises.

While tinnitus may not permanently go away on its own, it gets better with proper treatment methods. For that reason, we will discuss the most effective methods of treatment and alleviating symptoms of tinnitus.

What Happens in Tinnitus?

Tinnitus sound disorder causes ringing in the ear without any external sound source. This can be debilitating as the affected person might be sleeping, working, or concentrating during any activity, and suddenly tinnitus sounds start buzzing in their ears.

Ringing in the ears is not the only sensation that tinnitus-affected people experience. In fact, several other sounds and sensations may occur in or both of the ears, depending on the severity of the condition.

  • Humming
  • Clicking
  • Roaring
  • Hissing
  • Whistling
  • Whooshing

Common causes of tinnitus include:

  • Ear damage (infections, disorders, diseases, and other issues)
  • Ear deformities
  • Blood pressure disorders
  • Auditory nerve tumors
  • Exposure to loud sounds and noises

There are many other causes and factors that experts believe lead to tinnitus. Tinnitus doesn’t only impose physical complications, but it also causes severe mental issues like anxiety, depression, and stress at chronic stages. Therefore, it is imperative to find a remedy to lessen its effect and live a peaceful life while having tinnitus. Below are treatments that help in reducing the effect of tinnitus and managing it.

Treatments for Tinnitus

Medications

There aren’t any prescription drugs present to cure tinnitus currently. The most certain medications can alleviate the symptoms and reduce the effect and pressure of tinnitus noises on your mind and health. These medications work to ease your circulatory system, which puts you at ease and makes you comfortable. Moreover, medication also helps to prevent severe symptoms of tinnitus, such as stress, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms of chronic mental health issues can arise from prolonged exposure to tinnitus. Hence, they can lead to worsening overall health. Your tinnitus specialist might prescribe some medication to help you prevent just that.

Noise Blocking/Masking Devices

Your doctor or tinnitus specialist might suggest that you use noise-masking devices with other treatment methods. These devices mainly cover tinnitus sounds such as ringing, buzzing, whooshing, whistling, etc. Usually, you may wear these devices over or behind your ear to help as hearing aids.

Such devices include white noise machines, hearing aids, masking devices, and more. When these devices work, they can program certain frequencies to appear less bothersome. Furthermore, you can easily focus on the external sounds that you wish to focus on when these devices mask the unwanted noises.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured? Get Treatment
(Source)

Therapies

Therapies include an extensive range of talkative exercises with a psychologist or psychotherapist. Moreover, therapies are effective in regulating your behavior, helping you rethink, and more importantly, they let you reconstruct your thought process, which no longer leads to negative reactions against tinnitus sounds and symptoms. Here are the two main types of tinnitus treatment therapies that cover a broad range of sub-types of therapies.

  • Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

In this therapy, your specialist will work closely to provide you directive counseling that will harmlessly alter your behavior in response to the tinnitus sounds and noises. Specific negative reactions and emotions can trigger when you constantly listen to tinnitus sounds. Therefore, masking devices play an important role in reducing the sounds while your receive directive counseling to gain the ability to perceive tinnitus noises as neutral signals.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This process involves talk therapy with your specialist, who guides you on how to reimage and re-perceive the sounds of tinnitus in a neutral category. By closely educating you on tinnitus management and how your reactions form after listening to constant ringing, you are able to grasp the idea of reconstructing your thought process. By learning to ignore tinnitus sounds and hearing them as neutral sounds, you are able to cope with your daily routine much better.

  • Tinnitus Sound Therapy

In tinnitus sound therapy, your therapist will provide you the confidence to ignore and perceive the tinnitus sounds as neutral and non-affecting signals, just like the other therapies. However, in this therapy, an audiologist will be present who will work extensively to provide you sound masking and notching devices that will let you cope with tinnitus. These devices range in broad categories, so your audiologist will help to find the best one for you.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured? Conclusion

Do you want to find a remedy to counter the tinnitus sounds and noises in one or both of your ears? The best approach in managing tinnitus is seeking the help of the right tinnitus specialist who focuses on this and associated conditions that accompany tinnitus. The right tinnitus specialist can guide you and help you cope with this disturbing condition.

Dr. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, has over 20 years of experience in clinical practice. Moreover, he specializes in treating and managing tinnitus and sound disorders in patients.

Call us at 646-213-2321 to schedule an online appointment today and for more information regarding tinnitus treatment services. 

 


References

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2019.00802/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430809/#:~:text=Introduction,can%20arise%20from%20an%20aneurysm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3918281/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7927175/

Hyperacusis & Tinnitus Are they Related?

Are Hyperacusis & Tinnitus Related? Below we will describe both conditions and can compare to see if there is any relation between the 2.

What is Hyperacusis?

This condition involves the inability to bear daily sounds. People suffering from hyperacusis usually find normal sounds to be very loud, painful, and uncomfortable. The most common cause of hyperacusis is impairment of the inner ear due to exposure to loud noises and aging.

Experts link this condition with tinnitus, which involves a ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound in the ear without any external source. Most people face this condition in both of their ears. However, hyperacusis can occur in just one ear, as well. Other conditions that make people intolerant to sound are phonophobia and loudness recruitment.

Hyperacusis & Tinnitus. Are they Related?
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Symptoms of Hyperacusis

Symptoms of hyperacusis can be sudden or gradual. These symptoms include:

  • You will find your voice to be distorted or loud
  • You will find low sounds to be very comfortable, but ordinary sounds will irritate you
  • You will feel pain and discomfort Around loud and sudden sounds
  • Sounds with low intensity, such as that of a refrigerator, will seem very loud and annoying

Causes of Hyperacusis

Here are some causes of this condition:

  • Head injury
  • Certain medications
  • A slap on the ear
  • Hearing problem because of aging
  • Noise exposure such as working in a loud environment
  • Ear surgery
  • Exposure to an explosion or sudden sound
  • Medical procedures such as getting your ear canal cleaned can temporarily increase the intensity of sounds you hear
  • Facial nerve paralysis can affect the mechanism in your middle ear which is responsible for protecting your ears from loud noise

Other Causes of Hyperacusis

Below you will find some other causes of hyperacusis:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Neck and head injury or trauma
  • Withdrawal symptoms or medication side effects
  • Lyme disease
  • Migraine headache
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Acoustic trauma and noise exposure
  • Neurological conditions
  • PTSD
  • Perilymph fistula
  • Ototoxins
  • TMJ disorder
  • TBI
  • Williams syndrome
  • Sensorineural hearing loss
  • Superior canal dehiscence
  • Facial nerve or viral infections in the inside of the ear

If you cannot tolerate sounds in a single ear, an ENT doctor will investigate for a tumor (acoustic neuroma) on the vestibular (balance) nerve.If they detect a tumor in time, experts can remove it in time. Even if the specialist finds a tumor, they need not necessarily remove the tumor.

Treatment of Hyperacusis

At this time, no medical or surgical approaches specific to hyperacusis exist. However, medical specialists can suggest various treatments to reduce a patient’s anxiety and fear. These therapies can also help with sensitivity to sound. Here are those therapies:

  • Retraining Therapy
  • Sound therapy
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Counseling and education

What is Tinnitus?

In tinnitus, you will perceive noises despite them having no external source. Such sounds include hissing, ringing, and buzzing. This condition can occur in both or a single ear. Tinnitus can be centered inside or from outside the head. There are two types of Tinnitus. Objective tinnitus is when the noise is from inside the body. This type is rare, but an examiner can hear the sound. In Subjective Tinnitus, an ENT doctor or specialist cannot hear the sound. This type of tinnitus is very common.

Are Hyperacusis & Tinnitus Related?
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Symptoms of Tinnitus

The symptoms of hyperacusis and tinnitus may differ in severity and description among individuals. Both hyperacusis and tinnitus may be symptoms of different diseases or disorders and may be linked with various conditions.

Symptoms of tinnitus may be:

  • Low or high pitched noise
  • Intermittent, pulsing, or constant
  • Non-bothersome or bothersome
  • Chronic or acute
  • Centered inside or localized from outside of the head
  • Present in both or a single ear

Causes of Tinnitus

Risk factors and causes of objective tinnitus are:

  • benign intracranial hypertension
  • atherosclerotic carotid arteries
  • arteriovenous malformation
  • arterial bruit
  • anemia
  • Blood flow changes in the vessels near your ear because of:
  • thyrotoxicosis
  • strenuous exercise
  • pregnancy
  • glomus tumors
  • neck or head injury or trauma
  • middle ear muscle spasms
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction
  • Vestibulocochlear nerve’s microvascular compression (VIII);
  • Palatomyoclonus

Risk factors and causes of subjective tinnitus are:

  • Barotrauma
  • Hormonal changes
  • Ménière’s disease
  • Acoustic trauma
  • Endocrine disorder
  • Cerumen blockage
  • Sinus/ear infection
  • Migraine headache
  • Presbycusis
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
  • Otitis media
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Medication side effects
  • Hearing loss
  • Tumors such as meningioma and vestibular schwannoma
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Otosclerosis
  • Whiplash
  • Viral infections of the inner ear
  • Multiple sclerosis

Treatment of Tinnitus

Before treating your Tinnitus, an ENT doctor or tinnitus specialist will go through diagnosis to identify the reason for this condition. The treatment will depend on the symptoms. Here are some types of treatments that will help you in treating Tinnitus:

Treating an underlying health condition

  • Earwax removal
  • Treating a blood vessel condition
  • Changing your medication

Noise suppression

Hyperacusis & Tinnitus: Conclusion

A specialist will recognize the condition you are suffering from and suggest a suitable treatment method. Consult top NYC tinnitus specialist Stephen Gellar Katz LCSW at 646-213-2321 or visit our main website to learn more.

Does Tinnitus Go Away?

Will tinnitus symptoms go away on their own? Tinnitus is a common auditory disorder that affects 50 million Americans. It is usually a symptom of other conditions or diseases. The person who suffers from Tinnitus experiences ringing, hissing or whistling sounds without the presence of any external sound. The brain makes faulty perceptions of sounds due to dysfunctional tiny hair cells in the ear. Some people hear more frequent and constant sounds while others hear it less often.

Symptoms

There are different types of phantom noises one may hear if he suffers from tinnitus.

  • Ringing
  • Buzzing
  • Hissing
  • Roaring
  • Humming
  • Whistling

These noises may vary in amplitude, frequency and intensity depending on each individual. They can also occur in selective ears or both ears. There exist two types of Tinnitus.

Do Tinnitus Symptoms Go Away?
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Subjective Tinnitus

This is the most common type of Tinnitus. In this Tinnitus, you only hear the sounds and no one else can hear the sounds because none is present externally or internally. It is occurring because your auditory nerves are interpreting frequencies that are not there.

Objective Tinnitus

This is a very rare type of Tinnitus. In this condition, the person hears sounds because there is a presence of sound. The blood vessels or muscle contractions can be responsible for this sound.

Common Causes of Tinnitus

Earwax

Overloaded build up of earwax in the ear can cause Tinnitus. This is because the wax can block the ear and cause hearing loss. This can cause the auditory nerve system to stimulate noises that do not exist.

Exposure to Loud Noise

Exposure to loud noise can damage the tiny hair cells in the ear that are sensitive to sound. These tiny hair cells absorb the sound vibrations and send them to the auditory nerve system, which interprets those vibrations and forms the sound in our brain. Long-term damage of these tiny hair cells can be a severe cause of hearing loss and Tinnitus.

Aging process

The average age of people with Tinnitus averages over 50 years old. This tells us that people over the age of 50 years old are more likely to develop Tinnitus and hearing loss. This is because, with age, cells in the body start to deteriorate. Better care of your lifestyle can slow down the aging process.

Stress

People suffering from Tinnitus can make this condition worse when they are under a lot of stress. Emotional stress can amplify Tinnitus in an individual and make it unbearable for them.

Pre-existing Conditions

Certain pre-existing medical conditions in an individual can lead to the development in Tinnitus symptoms. These conditions include, Menieres disease, Lyme disease, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia.

Do Tinnitus Symptoms Resolve?
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Other causes can include injury, certain medications, sinus infections, acoustic neuromas or high blood pressure.

Does Tinnitus Go Away?

Tinnitus is a condition that is specific to each person. Whether or not the Tinnitus symptoms will be persistent or short lasting will depend on many factors that will include your age, general health, and the underlying cause of the condition.

In some cases, tinnitus disappears on its own while in others it can last for a longer time. Exposure to loud noise can also trigger Tinnitus in some people, this Tinnitus will only last only a couple of days. It will also re-emerge when exposed to loud noise again.

Permanent Tinnitus

Tinnitus in most cases is a temporary condition, but some severe cases can result in lasting and irreversible affects of Tinnitus. It is mostly dependant on the severity of the underlying cause

Hearing Loss

Hearing impairment is the most common underlying cause of Tinnitus. There are several causes one experiences hearing loss, Old age, loud noise, injury. If one is permanently impaired of their hearing, this can also result in permanent Tinnitus

Repeated Exposure to Loud Sounds

Continuous exposure to loud sounds can cause permanent hearing damage. This can ultimately lead to irreversible Tinnitus in a person. Musicians suffer from Tinnitus because of this very reason. Exposure to high amplitude music or sounds over the course of repeated days can have destructive affect on your ear.

Brain Injury

The brain makes plays a key role in processing sound and interpreting it according to its frequencies. Protected beneath the skull, any internal damage in the form of fracture or concussion can result to severe consequences, including Tinnitus.

Standard Care for Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be short lived in some people, while long lasting in others. No matter how it affects someone, it always has negative impact on ones lives. You can take a few steps that can possibly award you some relief before seeking help from a professional. These include, wearing earplugs, finding ways to mask the sound, learning to remain calm and avoiding loud noises.

Conclusion

You should not use over-the-counter drugs  as a treatment or cure for Tinnitus. The treatment for the severe conditions of Tinnitus requires special help from professional audiologists or psychologists.  If you seek medical help regarding sound disorders, visit us at Tinnitus Cognitive Center and Dr. Stephen Katz, will provide you with all the care and professional help that you need.

TINNITUS COGNITIVE CENTER
Stephen Katz, LCSW
646-213-2321

What Is Tinnitus?

What is tinnitus? Tinnitus refers to a common condition in which sufferers experience an irritating sensation of hearing ‘ringing’ sounds in their ears. Other sounds that they find extremely bothersome include hissing, buzzing, clicking, whistling and chirping etc. This noise is continuous and may vary in volume.

Sufferers of Tinnitus find it very hard to bear the noise, especially when background noise is low and there is pin-drop silence. In the absence of background noise, the ringing tends to enhance and annoy more because background noise actually helps drown it out to some extent.

What is Tinnitus: Causes

What is Tinnitus - Causes Symptoms TreatmentOne of the most common causes of Tinnitus is prolonged exposure to repetitive noise. Tinnitus can also be the result of old age hearing loss. There are delicate hair cells present in your inner ear that end to damage or wear and tear as you age. This leads to hearing problems and makes tinnitus more noticeable.

The structure of your ear is such that your inner ear translates sounds waves into nerve signals that are then sent to your brain. In this condition, the brain finds it hard to process the constant irritating noise. Individuals who take pills like aspirin, sedatives and anti depressants are more likely to develop this condition, since tinnitus is a side effect of such drugs.

Cardiovascular and circulatory problems may also cause Tinnitus to develop. In addition to that, frequent high blood pressure may also be one of the causes. You can expect high blood pressure if you have recently experienced a head injury, perhaps. Also, if there is ear wax stuck in your ear drums, there are chances that you can suffer from tinnitus, temporarily. You will go back to normal after the removal of wax from your ear.

However, if you notice the sound matching with your heart beat or sounding like it, then this is alarming and needs immediate medical attention. Doctors also believe that taking excessive stress and suffering from anxiety may also lead to Tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus: Symptoms

Main symptom that leads towards Tinnitus is extreme annoyance towards hissing and ringing sounds. If you simply cannot bear such sounds and feel an intense headache because of them, then you need to get a check-up done. It is very evident and noticeable at night when you are trying to sleep.

Experiencing pain in your jaw or dizziness may also be a symptom of Tinnitus. Other than that, if you have anemia or you have lost a lot of blood from your system due to an accident and you notice tinnitus symptoms in yourself then you need to consult a doctor.

Types of Tinnitus

Subjective Tinnitus is relatively easy to treat because it mainly has to do with auditory pathways and nerve signal problems that result in hearing issues. Objective Tinnitus on the other hand is more severe. It is rare and may be the result of a blood vessel or circulatory problem, making it more serious.

Bottom-Line

To conclude, it is vital to see a specialist if your tinnitus bothers you a lot or you have identified symptoms in yourself that lead towards tinnitus. Do you feel super annoyed at work because of the constant clicking noise that comes out of a colleague’s keyboard? Yes? Well, do not worry. Consult a doctor and address the issue so that you can live a normal and healthy life, and enjoy working in peace.

Schedule your appointment with the best Tinnitus specialist in NYC today!

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321

Physiology of Ear

What is physiology of ear? Can you imagine your life without hearing? Bless those souls who are leading their lives wonderfully without the sense of hearing. Your ears are one of the most vital parts of your body. They give you the gift of one of the five senses. Your ears have a perfectly shape to transmit and transduce the sounds to your brain.  Let us have a thorough understanding of the physiology of ear to appreciate its miraculous working.

The Outer Ear

An ear has three main parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and the inner. Let us understand the parts of an outer ear first. The outer inner is mainly the visible part of the ear. The outer ear is the entryway of the sound waves into the ear. Following are the parts of an outer ear.

Pinna

Most of the outer ear comprises of the pinna or an auricle, which is the visible fleshy part. Helix is the curving and outer rim of the pinna. As the curving of the pinna goes inward, the sound waves reach the antihelix, which opens in the ear canal. Pinna consists of single elastic cartilage that helps to hold and support the ear.

Ear Canal

It is the pathway between the outer ear and the middle ear through which the sound waves travel.

Tragus

The tragus is a small protruding opening that partially covers the ear canal. Interestingly tragus is also the name of the hair at the entrance of the ear.  The parallel side of the tragus is the antitragus.

The Middle Ear

The middle ear lies between the outer and inner ear. It has an air-filled cavity, the tympanic cavity and includes the ossicles.

Ossicles

The ossicles are the three bones Anvil, Hammer, and Stirrup present in the middle ear. The bones attach to the ear with their ligaments. These bones are the smallest bones of the human body. Ossicles help to direct and transmit the sound waves to the cochlea (the inner ear).

Eustachian Tube/Auditory Tube

This part of the middle ear connects to the throat and nasopharynx through the pharyngeal opening.

Round and Oval Windows

These two small windows provide openings to the inner ear.

Inner Ear

The inner ear is the area where the action starts. It sits in the bony labyrinth cavity of the ear. The inner ear has inter-connected tubes and chambers. The cochlea is the most important part of the inner ear. The other chambers with the fluid inside are the vestibular tubules or the semi-circular canals. These structures together form the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear.

Cochlea

This snail-shaped chamber receives sound waves from the middle ear. Any damage to the cochlea can partially or completely deafen you. Sound waves reach the brain through vestibulocochlear nerves present in the cochlea. The interpretation of the sounds waves takes place in the brain. The hairs in the cochlea also help in the transmission of the sound waves.

Conclusion

This was a simple and easy understanding of the physiology of the ear, highlighting the important components of the ears. As remarkable and well functioning the human ear is, it is also very delicate. Too much noise exposure can damage the cochlea and other important components of the ear.

If you experience ear-related problems, then contact us at 646-213-2321 to schedule a consultation. We at Tinnitus Cognitive Therapy have the best tinnitus specialist in NYC who offers advanced cognitive therapies for treating your ear-related problems.

Category Archives: Tinnitus

Understanding Tinnitus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

In this easy guide, we will delve into the intricacies of tinnitus, exploring its causes, symptoms, and a range of treatment options designed to provide relief and improve your quality of life. Tinnitus is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, yet its mechanisms and management remain widely misunderstood.

Tinnitus Causes Symptoms and Treatment

Tinnitus Causes Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is defined by the perception of sound when no external source is present. These phantom sounds can manifest as ringing, buzzing, humming, or even hissing and can occur in one or both ears. While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, it can affect individuals with normal hearing as well.

Common Causes of Tinnitus

Understanding the root causes of tinnitus is essential for effective management. Tinnitus can arise from a variety of factors, including:

Hearing Loss

One of the most prevalent causes, hearing loss, whether age-related or noise-induced, can lead to tinnitus.

Exposure to Loud Noise

Prolonged exposure to loud sounds or a single traumatic event can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear, triggering tinnitus.

Earwax Blockage

A build-up of earwax can obstruct the ear canal, leading to tinnitus symptoms.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions, such as Meniere’s disease, otosclerosis, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, can contribute to tinnitus.

Medications

Some medications, particularly when taken in high doses or over long periods, may cause tinnitus as a side effect.

Common Symptoms of Tinnitus

top Tinnitus Treatment specialist 2024Tinnitus symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Common experiences include:

Phantom Sounds

Individuals with tinnitus often describe hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other noises that have no external source.

Intermittent or Continuous

Tinnitus can be intermittent, occurring at specific times or continuously, creating a constant presence in one’s perception.

Hearing Impairment

Tinnitus is frequently accompanied by hearing loss, although it can also affect individuals with normal hearing.

Emotional Distress

The emotional toll of tinnitus can be significant, leading to anxiety, stress, depression, and difficulty concentrating.

Treatment Options for Tinnitus

Finding relief from tinnitus involves addressing its underlying causes and managing its impact on your life. Several treatment options are available, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps individuals reframe their thoughts and emotional responses to tinnitus, reducing the distress it causes.

Cognitive Retraining Therapy (CRT)

CRT focuses on retraining the brain’s perception of sound, desensitizing it to the tinnitus noise.

Hearing Aids

For those with hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify external sounds, reducing the contrast between background noise and tinnitus.

Sound Therapy

Sound therapy uses white noise or other soothing sounds to mask or distract from tinnitus noise.

Lifestyle Modifications

Managing stress, reducing exposure to loud noises, and addressing underlying medical conditions can all contribute to tinnitus relief.

Tinnitus Causes Symptoms and Treatment: Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a challenging and distressing condition, but it is not insurmountable. By understanding its causes, recognizing its symptoms, and exploring a range of treatment options, you can take proactive steps towards finding relief and improving your quality of life. If you or a loved one are struggling with tinnitus, consider seeking guidance from a specialist like Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, who can provide expert advice and tailored treatment options to help you on your journey to quieter days and nights.

Contact Information

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

All sessions are conducted online.
Multiple languages spoken

Living with Tinnitus: Coping Strategies and Support Resources

In this blog post, we will explore some coping strategies and support resources for those living with tinnitus. Tinnitus is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It is a ringing, buzzing, or other noise in the ears that is not caused by an external sound. Living with tinnitus can be challenging, but there are ways to cope with the condition and find support.

Tinnitus Coping Strategies and Support Resources

Tinnitus Coping Strategies and Support Resources

Coping Strategies for Living with Tinnitus

Living with tinnitus can be overwhelming, but there are coping strategies that can help make the condition more manageable. Here are some tips:

Reduce Stress

Stress can make tinnitus worse, so it’s important to find ways to reduce stress in your life. This could include practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga, or engaging in regular exercise.

Avoid Loud Noises

Exposure to loud noises can aggravate tinnitus, so it’s important to avoid loud noises whenever possible. If you must be around loud noises, wear ear protection.

Avoid Stimulants

Stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine, can make tinnitus worse, so it’s important to avoid them if possible.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is important for overall health and can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. Try to establish a regular sleep routine and create a relaxing sleep environment.

Support Resources for Living with Tinnitus

Living with tinnitus can be challenging, but there are many support resources available for those who need them. Here are some examples:

Tinnitus Support Groups

Tinnitus support groups can be a valuable resource for those living with the condition. These groups provide an opportunity to connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with tinnitus and to share coping strategies.

Here is a random selection of tinnitus support groups from across the internet in 2023:

https://www.ata.org/your-support-network/find-a-support-group/
https://www.entnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TinnitusProOrganizationsTable11.pdf
https://www.facebook.com/TinnitusSupport/

Tinnitus Awareness – Tinnitus Support Group


https://tinnitus.org.uk/support-for-you/support-groups/

Tinnitus Coping Strategies

Tinnitus Associations and Organizations

There are many associations and organizations dedicated to tinnitus research and support. These organizations provide information, resources, and support to those living with tinnitus.

Tinnitus Treatment Specialists

Tinnitus treatment specialists, such as Stephen Geller Katz LCSW, can help those living with tinnitus manage their symptoms and find relief. Tinnitus treatment can include cognitive behavioral therapy, retraining therapy, and other techniques.

Tinnitus Coping Strategies and Support Resources

How Stephen Geller Katz LCSW Can Help

Stephen Geller Katz LCSW is a tinnitus treatment specialist who can help those living with tinnitus find relief. He offers cognitive behavioral therapy and retraining therapy to help patients manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Dr. Katz speaks 5 languages and all sessions are held online, making treatment accessible to anyone, anywhere.

Call today for a consultation and to learn more about tinnitus treatment options. Don’t suffer in silence – help is available. If you are living with tinnitus and are looking for support, contact:

Stephen Geller Katz LCSW
646-213-2321

What Is Tinnitus?

What is tinnitus? You might have heard a faint ringing in your ear after you were done listening to very loud music. Or perhaps after too many cups of coffee, you could hear a slight ringing in your ears. In both these situations, you are experiencing what is referred to as tinnitus.

What Is Tinnitus?
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While it may seem very concerning at first, tinnitus is complicated to understand since it often has underlying health conditions associated with it. Therefore, to better understand this condition, you will have to understand its underlying health concerns.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the ringing you hear in your ears, regardless of what you did beforehand. Whether the ringing results from you listening to music or an injury, they all fall under the broader category of tinnitus. However, it can also have varying categories where the symptoms on display can differ. Although rare, pulsatile tinnitus is a well know variant where the ringing is in sync with the individual’s heartbeat.

However, the sounds an individual hears do not necessarily have to be high pitched ringing. It can also resemble birds chirping, wind whistling, hissing, or buzzing. Furthermore, the noise that a person hears can either be loud or soft, which often depends on the severity of the condition.

How Serious Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is less a condition on its own and more akin to a sign pointing towards a more serious health condition. So even though very brief ringing after loud noises is never too serious, the ringing becoming too common could be a sign that you have an underlying health issue.

Tinnitus severity can also vary with each person, with some even unable to perform everyday tasks. It can affect their concentration and even lead to them developing other health issues such as depression and insomnia.

What Factors Cause Tinnitus?

It is important to understand that the ringing that most people with tinnitus experience is likely a sign of something more serious. Therefore, by understanding the factors that cause tinnitus, you can learn more about its treatment options.

Hearing Loss

Loss of hearing, whether it is because of loud noise or old age, often results in people developing tinnitus. This cause of tinnitus can be the most difficult to deal with, especially since there is no way to recover an individual’s hearing unless they wear a dedicated hearing aid.

Psychological Causes

Some experts contend that tinnitus is a purely psychological condition caused by various factors including trauma, PTSD, childhood events, and others. Read more about the potential psychological causes here.

Malformation of Blood Vessels

Another reason an individual could have tinnitus is an issue with the blood vessels surrounding their ears. Damage to the blood vessels in any way that restricts blood flow to the inner ear is enough to cause tinnitus in some cases.

Increase in Blood Pressure

Another major contributing factor to tinnitus is the increase in blood pressure. Whether the individual naturally has higher blood pressure or factors like caffeine, alcohol, and stress are increasing, they all can lead to tinnitus. Caffeine and alcohol can especially spike blood pressure levels, making them major triggers of this condition.

What Is Tinnitus | Causes Treatment
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Treatments for Tinnitus

Treatment for tinnitus is often multilayered, as physicians must also try their best to discover and treat the underlying health issue. Therefore, treatment options can sometimes include using devices to mask the sounds of tinnitus ringing or getting some combination of counseling and therapy. Cognitive therapies have proven extremely helpful in treating, and in some cases, curing tinnitus.

Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a deeply personal treatment, as individuals often struggle to describe the condition to others. You need to contact a professional when experiencing these symptoms.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center ™ in New York, has over 20 years of experience providing excellent Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT).

Call today to schedule a convenient online consultation.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Health Conditions Related to Tinnitus

Are there health conditions related to tinnitus? Despite being lesser known, nearly 50 million Americans are struggling with tinnitus. However, since people sometimes think that a faint ringing in their ear is fine or natural, less than half of those diagnosed will seek out help.

Health conditions related to tinnitus
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More importantly, tinnitus is often not the problem since it is more or less a signal that an underlying health condition needs your attention. To help educate people about the health conditions often related to tinnitus.

Common Types of Tinnitus

While tinnitus refers to the noise or ringing people can hear inside their ears, they often fall into two broader categories. These include subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus. The main difference between the two is that the subjective category is unique to the individual.

But as for objective tinnitus, a medical expert can hear noise in your ear using devices such as a stethoscope. An audiologist will likely perform the tests necessary to determine which category you have.

Each category can have unique causes, with objective tinnitus often resulting from severe muscle spasms. But as for the subjective type, it is more than likely that subjective tinnitus results from factors like aging or exposure to loud noise.

Health Conditions Related to Tinnitus

Tinnitus is often a sign that an individual has other, more serious health conditions for which they should get treatment. Here is a more detailed list of the medical conditions often related to tinnitus.

Diabetes

People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing tinnitus for various reasons. People with diabetes will already have trouble with their blood flow, which can make them significantly more susceptible to trouble with their hearing.

Elevated blood sugar levels can also lead to people developing tinnitus symptoms.

Higher Blood Pressure

Higher blood pressure can contribute to people developing tinnitus. Of course, it will still contribute to tinnitus if people have naturally higher blood pressure or are in situations where it is likely to rise.

Other factors that can increase blood pressure, such as caffeine and alcohol, are more than likely to spike blood pressure. And when it does, it is not uncommon for people to hear a ringing in their ears.

Ear Infections

If an individual has an ear infection, they are more than likely to have tinnitus. Since blood flow to the ears is restricted during an ear infection, the inner ear will likely develop tinnitus.

Autoimmune Disorders

Another serious health condition related to tinnitus is an autoimmune disease known as lupus. People struggling with autoimmune diseases will eventually lead to peripheral auditory dysfunction, which can lead to hearing a noise in their ears.

Health conditions related to tinnitus | TRT Treatment
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Hearing Loss

People who lose their hearing, whether due to old age or an accident, are most likely to develop tinnitus. The only treatment to deal with this condition is for the individual to get hearing aids to reduce tinnitus symptoms.

Sinus and the Common Cold

Along with various other conditions, tinnitus could signify that the individual has a sinus infection or the common cold. The blocked sinus can restrict blood flow to the ear, but this noise shouldn’t worry you since it is more likely to pass in some time.

Health Conditions Related to Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus is often a sign that there is another, more serious health condition that you need to get checked for. If the ringing in your ears persists for too long, you should visit a professional immediately.

Stephen Geller Katz at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ has over 20 years of experience providing excellent Tinnitus Retraining Therapy TRT.

Visit us in person or give us a call today for a consultation.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Tinnitus and Psychology: What’s the Relationship?

Is there a relationship between tinnitus and psychology? Tinnitus is a hearing condition in which the affected person perceives sounds that are unrelated to any external source. This means the sound does not acoustically exist in the outside world. Sufferers of tinnitus define tinnitus as a ringing in the ears. However, some others also experience different hyperboles such as whistling, chirping, buzzing, and in rare cases, even musical sounds.

Tinnitus and Psychology
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The symptoms of tinnitus vary from person to person in numerous ways. For instance, some people hear a distant noise while others claim the sound is present inside their heads. Not to mention, tinnitus can be constant or intermittent and pulsating or steady.

You should seek medical help if tinnitus starts disrupting your lifestyle.

Tinnitus and Psychology

Although it affects around 50 million people in the US alone, tinnitus has few therapeutic measures. In fact, none of the different treatment options can eliminate tinnitus. Hence, tinnitus is a serious concern that manifests co-morbid psychological stress.

According to various studies and surveys,

  • Affective disorders like depressive disorder are prevalent among people suffering from tinnitus. In fact, studies also reveal a correlation between the decrease in depressive and tinnitus symptoms.
  • Anxiety is also high in prevalence among people affected by tinnitus, alongside depression.
  • Personality disorders are also common among tinnitus patients. These include low self-control, type D personality, low psychological acceptance, high-stress reaction, and worsened well-being and social closeness.
  • Tinnitus patients also score high on psychoticism, hostility, and paranoid ideation.
  • Tinnitus also adversely affects executive attention and function, causing cognitive impairment. Affected people also take more time to process and give longer responses.
  • 42% of tinnitus patients also suffer from a somatoform disorder.
  • Insomnia is also common among tinnitus patients as tinnitus sounds become more noticeable at night.

Stress Caused by Tinnitus

By definition, stress is the result of physical or psychological conditions that threaten the normal function of the human body in any way. Usually, stress is associated with difficulty or inability to manage and control a situation. Frequently, experts see stress to be related to tinnitus and other health-related conditions.

Although tinnitus is the result of damage to the auditory system, emotional and psychological factors also prove a significant role. In fact, emotional and mental exhaustion and stress are strong indicators of how intense and severe tinnitus is for a particular person.

Not to mention, many patients also report that their tinnitus worsens during stressful situations. This evidence suggests that stress and tinnitus are related. In fact, statistics show a probable cause-and-effect relationship between the two.

According to observations, tinnitus patients present psychological distress before or during the onset of tinnitus. In fact, the findings of Gomaa et al. reveal that only 25 out of 100 tinnitus patients don’t experience stress.

Tinnitus and Psychology What's the Relationship?
(Source)

Tinnitus’ Impact on Quality of Life

Tinnitus largely impinges on an affected person’s quality of life. While some patients only complain about minor annoyance, tinnitus can also result in suicidal attempts in extreme cases. Not only this, but the hearing condition also impairs one’s lifestyle.

For example, you find it hard to focus on work and studies when there are constant ringing sounds in the ears. This results in reduced performance and poor productivity. On the other hand, not getting adequate amounts of sleep and resting properly can cause physical and mental exhaustion.

Not to forget, people also find it hard to hold conversations and interact with others around them due to this hearing condition. This, in turn, also causes emotional difficulties and disruption in social life.

Tinnitus and Psychology: Conclusion

If you think your tinnitus is causing mental health issues for you, you might want to consult a professional. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, possesses over 20 years of experience in the field. Visit our Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ or give us a call for a consultation.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321

Can Tinnitus Be Cured?

Can the sound disorder known as tinnitus be cured? Do you struggle with tinnitus? Is it affecting the way you sleep, work, and concentrate in your daily life? Experiencing tinnitus can be devastating for some. If you are among those suffering from the physical and mental issues that come with tinnitus, you might be looking for a cure.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured?
(Source)

Unfortunately, tinnitus remains on the list of incurable health issues and disorders. However, modern treatment options lower the impact and effect of serious tinnitus symptoms, which helps many people cope and ignore the tinnitus noises.

While tinnitus may not permanently go away on its own, it gets better with proper treatment methods. For that reason, we will discuss the most effective methods of treatment and alleviating symptoms of tinnitus.

What Happens in Tinnitus?

Tinnitus sound disorder causes ringing in the ear without any external sound source. This can be debilitating as the affected person might be sleeping, working, or concentrating during any activity, and suddenly tinnitus sounds start buzzing in their ears.

Ringing in the ears is not the only sensation that tinnitus-affected people experience. In fact, several other sounds and sensations may occur in or both of the ears, depending on the severity of the condition.

  • Humming
  • Clicking
  • Roaring
  • Hissing
  • Whistling
  • Whooshing

Common causes of tinnitus include:

  • Ear damage (infections, disorders, diseases, and other issues)
  • Ear deformities
  • Blood pressure disorders
  • Auditory nerve tumors
  • Exposure to loud sounds and noises

There are many other causes and factors that experts believe lead to tinnitus. Tinnitus doesn’t only impose physical complications, but it also causes severe mental issues like anxiety, depression, and stress at chronic stages. Therefore, it is imperative to find a remedy to lessen its effect and live a peaceful life while having tinnitus. Below are treatments that help in reducing the effect of tinnitus and managing it.

Treatments for Tinnitus

Medications

There aren’t any prescription drugs present to cure tinnitus currently. The most certain medications can alleviate the symptoms and reduce the effect and pressure of tinnitus noises on your mind and health. These medications work to ease your circulatory system, which puts you at ease and makes you comfortable. Moreover, medication also helps to prevent severe symptoms of tinnitus, such as stress, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms of chronic mental health issues can arise from prolonged exposure to tinnitus. Hence, they can lead to worsening overall health. Your tinnitus specialist might prescribe some medication to help you prevent just that.

Noise Blocking/Masking Devices

Your doctor or tinnitus specialist might suggest that you use noise-masking devices with other treatment methods. These devices mainly cover tinnitus sounds such as ringing, buzzing, whooshing, whistling, etc. Usually, you may wear these devices over or behind your ear to help as hearing aids.

Such devices include white noise machines, hearing aids, masking devices, and more. When these devices work, they can program certain frequencies to appear less bothersome. Furthermore, you can easily focus on the external sounds that you wish to focus on when these devices mask the unwanted noises.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured? Get Treatment
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Therapies

Therapies include an extensive range of talkative exercises with a psychologist or psychotherapist. Moreover, therapies are effective in regulating your behavior, helping you rethink, and more importantly, they let you reconstruct your thought process, which no longer leads to negative reactions against tinnitus sounds and symptoms. Here are the two main types of tinnitus treatment therapies that cover a broad range of sub-types of therapies.

  • Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

In this therapy, your specialist will work closely to provide you directive counseling that will harmlessly alter your behavior in response to the tinnitus sounds and noises. Specific negative reactions and emotions can trigger when you constantly listen to tinnitus sounds. Therefore, masking devices play an important role in reducing the sounds while your receive directive counseling to gain the ability to perceive tinnitus noises as neutral signals.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This process involves talk therapy with your specialist, who guides you on how to reimage and re-perceive the sounds of tinnitus in a neutral category. By closely educating you on tinnitus management and how your reactions form after listening to constant ringing, you are able to grasp the idea of reconstructing your thought process. By learning to ignore tinnitus sounds and hearing them as neutral sounds, you are able to cope with your daily routine much better.

  • Tinnitus Sound Therapy

In tinnitus sound therapy, your therapist will provide you the confidence to ignore and perceive the tinnitus sounds as neutral and non-affecting signals, just like the other therapies. However, in this therapy, an audiologist will be present who will work extensively to provide you sound masking and notching devices that will let you cope with tinnitus. These devices range in broad categories, so your audiologist will help to find the best one for you.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured? Conclusion

Do you want to find a remedy to counter the tinnitus sounds and noises in one or both of your ears? The best approach in managing tinnitus is seeking the help of the right tinnitus specialist who focuses on this and associated conditions that accompany tinnitus. The right tinnitus specialist can guide you and help you cope with this disturbing condition.

Dr. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, has over 20 years of experience in clinical practice. Moreover, he specializes in treating and managing tinnitus and sound disorders in patients.

Call us at 646-213-2321 to schedule an online appointment today and for more information regarding tinnitus treatment services. 

 


References

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2019.00802/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430809/#:~:text=Introduction,can%20arise%20from%20an%20aneurysm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3918281/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7927175/

Hyperacusis & Tinnitus Are they Related?

Are Hyperacusis & Tinnitus Related? Below we will describe both conditions and can compare to see if there is any relation between the 2.

What is Hyperacusis?

This condition involves the inability to bear daily sounds. People suffering from hyperacusis usually find normal sounds to be very loud, painful, and uncomfortable. The most common cause of hyperacusis is impairment of the inner ear due to exposure to loud noises and aging.

Experts link this condition with tinnitus, which involves a ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound in the ear without any external source. Most people face this condition in both of their ears. However, hyperacusis can occur in just one ear, as well. Other conditions that make people intolerant to sound are phonophobia and loudness recruitment.

Hyperacusis & Tinnitus. Are they Related?
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Symptoms of Hyperacusis

Symptoms of hyperacusis can be sudden or gradual. These symptoms include:

  • You will find your voice to be distorted or loud
  • You will find low sounds to be very comfortable, but ordinary sounds will irritate you
  • You will feel pain and discomfort Around loud and sudden sounds
  • Sounds with low intensity, such as that of a refrigerator, will seem very loud and annoying

Causes of Hyperacusis

Here are some causes of this condition:

  • Head injury
  • Certain medications
  • A slap on the ear
  • Hearing problem because of aging
  • Noise exposure such as working in a loud environment
  • Ear surgery
  • Exposure to an explosion or sudden sound
  • Medical procedures such as getting your ear canal cleaned can temporarily increase the intensity of sounds you hear
  • Facial nerve paralysis can affect the mechanism in your middle ear which is responsible for protecting your ears from loud noise

Other Causes of Hyperacusis

Below you will find some other causes of hyperacusis:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Neck and head injury or trauma
  • Withdrawal symptoms or medication side effects
  • Lyme disease
  • Migraine headache
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Acoustic trauma and noise exposure
  • Neurological conditions
  • PTSD
  • Perilymph fistula
  • Ototoxins
  • TMJ disorder
  • TBI
  • Williams syndrome
  • Sensorineural hearing loss
  • Superior canal dehiscence
  • Facial nerve or viral infections in the inside of the ear

If you cannot tolerate sounds in a single ear, an ENT doctor will investigate for a tumor (acoustic neuroma) on the vestibular (balance) nerve.If they detect a tumor in time, experts can remove it in time. Even if the specialist finds a tumor, they need not necessarily remove the tumor.

Treatment of Hyperacusis

At this time, no medical or surgical approaches specific to hyperacusis exist. However, medical specialists can suggest various treatments to reduce a patient’s anxiety and fear. These therapies can also help with sensitivity to sound. Here are those therapies:

  • Retraining Therapy
  • Sound therapy
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Counseling and education

What is Tinnitus?

In tinnitus, you will perceive noises despite them having no external source. Such sounds include hissing, ringing, and buzzing. This condition can occur in both or a single ear. Tinnitus can be centered inside or from outside the head. There are two types of Tinnitus. Objective tinnitus is when the noise is from inside the body. This type is rare, but an examiner can hear the sound. In Subjective Tinnitus, an ENT doctor or specialist cannot hear the sound. This type of tinnitus is very common.

Are Hyperacusis & Tinnitus Related?
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Symptoms of Tinnitus

The symptoms of hyperacusis and tinnitus may differ in severity and description among individuals. Both hyperacusis and tinnitus may be symptoms of different diseases or disorders and may be linked with various conditions.

Symptoms of tinnitus may be:

  • Low or high pitched noise
  • Intermittent, pulsing, or constant
  • Non-bothersome or bothersome
  • Chronic or acute
  • Centered inside or localized from outside of the head
  • Present in both or a single ear

Causes of Tinnitus

Risk factors and causes of objective tinnitus are:

  • benign intracranial hypertension
  • atherosclerotic carotid arteries
  • arteriovenous malformation
  • arterial bruit
  • anemia
  • Blood flow changes in the vessels near your ear because of:
  • thyrotoxicosis
  • strenuous exercise
  • pregnancy
  • glomus tumors
  • neck or head injury or trauma
  • middle ear muscle spasms
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction
  • Vestibulocochlear nerve’s microvascular compression (VIII);
  • Palatomyoclonus

Risk factors and causes of subjective tinnitus are:

  • Barotrauma
  • Hormonal changes
  • Ménière’s disease
  • Acoustic trauma
  • Endocrine disorder
  • Cerumen blockage
  • Sinus/ear infection
  • Migraine headache
  • Presbycusis
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
  • Otitis media
  • Metabolic disorder
  • Medication side effects
  • Hearing loss
  • Tumors such as meningioma and vestibular schwannoma
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Otosclerosis
  • Whiplash
  • Viral infections of the inner ear
  • Multiple sclerosis

Treatment of Tinnitus

Before treating your Tinnitus, an ENT doctor or tinnitus specialist will go through diagnosis to identify the reason for this condition. The treatment will depend on the symptoms. Here are some types of treatments that will help you in treating Tinnitus:

Treating an underlying health condition

  • Earwax removal
  • Treating a blood vessel condition
  • Changing your medication

Noise suppression

Hyperacusis & Tinnitus: Conclusion

A specialist will recognize the condition you are suffering from and suggest a suitable treatment method. Consult top NYC tinnitus specialist Stephen Gellar Katz LCSW at 646-213-2321 or visit our main website to learn more.

Does Tinnitus Go Away?

Will tinnitus symptoms go away on their own? Tinnitus is a common auditory disorder that affects 50 million Americans. It is usually a symptom of other conditions or diseases. The person who suffers from Tinnitus experiences ringing, hissing or whistling sounds without the presence of any external sound. The brain makes faulty perceptions of sounds due to dysfunctional tiny hair cells in the ear. Some people hear more frequent and constant sounds while others hear it less often.

Symptoms

There are different types of phantom noises one may hear if he suffers from tinnitus.

  • Ringing
  • Buzzing
  • Hissing
  • Roaring
  • Humming
  • Whistling

These noises may vary in amplitude, frequency and intensity depending on each individual. They can also occur in selective ears or both ears. There exist two types of Tinnitus.

Do Tinnitus Symptoms Go Away?
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Subjective Tinnitus

This is the most common type of Tinnitus. In this Tinnitus, you only hear the sounds and no one else can hear the sounds because none is present externally or internally. It is occurring because your auditory nerves are interpreting frequencies that are not there.

Objective Tinnitus

This is a very rare type of Tinnitus. In this condition, the person hears sounds because there is a presence of sound. The blood vessels or muscle contractions can be responsible for this sound.

Common Causes of Tinnitus

Earwax

Overloaded build up of earwax in the ear can cause Tinnitus. This is because the wax can block the ear and cause hearing loss. This can cause the auditory nerve system to stimulate noises that do not exist.

Exposure to Loud Noise

Exposure to loud noise can damage the tiny hair cells in the ear that are sensitive to sound. These tiny hair cells absorb the sound vibrations and send them to the auditory nerve system, which interprets those vibrations and forms the sound in our brain. Long-term damage of these tiny hair cells can be a severe cause of hearing loss and Tinnitus.

Aging process

The average age of people with Tinnitus averages over 50 years old. This tells us that people over the age of 50 years old are more likely to develop Tinnitus and hearing loss. This is because, with age, cells in the body start to deteriorate. Better care of your lifestyle can slow down the aging process.

Stress

People suffering from Tinnitus can make this condition worse when they are under a lot of stress. Emotional stress can amplify Tinnitus in an individual and make it unbearable for them.

Pre-existing Conditions

Certain pre-existing medical conditions in an individual can lead to the development in Tinnitus symptoms. These conditions include, Menieres disease, Lyme disease, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia.

Do Tinnitus Symptoms Resolve?
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Other causes can include injury, certain medications, sinus infections, acoustic neuromas or high blood pressure.

Does Tinnitus Go Away?

Tinnitus is a condition that is specific to each person. Whether or not the Tinnitus symptoms will be persistent or short lasting will depend on many factors that will include your age, general health, and the underlying cause of the condition.

In some cases, tinnitus disappears on its own while in others it can last for a longer time. Exposure to loud noise can also trigger Tinnitus in some people, this Tinnitus will only last only a couple of days. It will also re-emerge when exposed to loud noise again.

Permanent Tinnitus

Tinnitus in most cases is a temporary condition, but some severe cases can result in lasting and irreversible affects of Tinnitus. It is mostly dependant on the severity of the underlying cause

Hearing Loss

Hearing impairment is the most common underlying cause of Tinnitus. There are several causes one experiences hearing loss, Old age, loud noise, injury. If one is permanently impaired of their hearing, this can also result in permanent Tinnitus

Repeated Exposure to Loud Sounds

Continuous exposure to loud sounds can cause permanent hearing damage. This can ultimately lead to irreversible Tinnitus in a person. Musicians suffer from Tinnitus because of this very reason. Exposure to high amplitude music or sounds over the course of repeated days can have destructive affect on your ear.

Brain Injury

The brain makes plays a key role in processing sound and interpreting it according to its frequencies. Protected beneath the skull, any internal damage in the form of fracture or concussion can result to severe consequences, including Tinnitus.

Standard Care for Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be short lived in some people, while long lasting in others. No matter how it affects someone, it always has negative impact on ones lives. You can take a few steps that can possibly award you some relief before seeking help from a professional. These include, wearing earplugs, finding ways to mask the sound, learning to remain calm and avoiding loud noises.

Conclusion

You should not use over-the-counter drugs  as a treatment or cure for Tinnitus. The treatment for the severe conditions of Tinnitus requires special help from professional audiologists or psychologists.  If you seek medical help regarding sound disorders, visit us at Tinnitus Cognitive Center and Dr. Stephen Katz, will provide you with all the care and professional help that you need.

TINNITUS COGNITIVE CENTER
Stephen Katz, LCSW
646-213-2321

What Is Tinnitus?

What is tinnitus? Tinnitus refers to a common condition in which sufferers experience an irritating sensation of hearing ‘ringing’ sounds in their ears. Other sounds that they find extremely bothersome include hissing, buzzing, clicking, whistling and chirping etc. This noise is continuous and may vary in volume.

Sufferers of Tinnitus find it very hard to bear the noise, especially when background noise is low and there is pin-drop silence. In the absence of background noise, the ringing tends to enhance and annoy more because background noise actually helps drown it out to some extent.

What is Tinnitus: Causes

What is Tinnitus - Causes Symptoms TreatmentOne of the most common causes of Tinnitus is prolonged exposure to repetitive noise. Tinnitus can also be the result of old age hearing loss. There are delicate hair cells present in your inner ear that end to damage or wear and tear as you age. This leads to hearing problems and makes tinnitus more noticeable.

The structure of your ear is such that your inner ear translates sounds waves into nerve signals that are then sent to your brain. In this condition, the brain finds it hard to process the constant irritating noise. Individuals who take pills like aspirin, sedatives and anti depressants are more likely to develop this condition, since tinnitus is a side effect of such drugs.

Cardiovascular and circulatory problems may also cause Tinnitus to develop. In addition to that, frequent high blood pressure may also be one of the causes. You can expect high blood pressure if you have recently experienced a head injury, perhaps. Also, if there is ear wax stuck in your ear drums, there are chances that you can suffer from tinnitus, temporarily. You will go back to normal after the removal of wax from your ear.

However, if you notice the sound matching with your heart beat or sounding like it, then this is alarming and needs immediate medical attention. Doctors also believe that taking excessive stress and suffering from anxiety may also lead to Tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus: Symptoms

Main symptom that leads towards Tinnitus is extreme annoyance towards hissing and ringing sounds. If you simply cannot bear such sounds and feel an intense headache because of them, then you need to get a check-up done. It is very evident and noticeable at night when you are trying to sleep.

Experiencing pain in your jaw or dizziness may also be a symptom of Tinnitus. Other than that, if you have anemia or you have lost a lot of blood from your system due to an accident and you notice tinnitus symptoms in yourself then you need to consult a doctor.

Types of Tinnitus

Subjective Tinnitus is relatively easy to treat because it mainly has to do with auditory pathways and nerve signal problems that result in hearing issues. Objective Tinnitus on the other hand is more severe. It is rare and may be the result of a blood vessel or circulatory problem, making it more serious.

Bottom-Line

To conclude, it is vital to see a specialist if your tinnitus bothers you a lot or you have identified symptoms in yourself that lead towards tinnitus. Do you feel super annoyed at work because of the constant clicking noise that comes out of a colleague’s keyboard? Yes? Well, do not worry. Consult a doctor and address the issue so that you can live a normal and healthy life, and enjoy working in peace.

Schedule your appointment with the best Tinnitus specialist in NYC today!

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321

Physiology of Ear

What is physiology of ear? Can you imagine your life without hearing? Bless those souls who are leading their lives wonderfully without the sense of hearing. Your ears are one of the most vital parts of your body. They give you the gift of one of the five senses. Your ears have a perfectly shape to transmit and transduce the sounds to your brain.  Let us have a thorough understanding of the physiology of ear to appreciate its miraculous working.

The Outer Ear

An ear has three main parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and the inner. Let us understand the parts of an outer ear first. The outer inner is mainly the visible part of the ear. The outer ear is the entryway of the sound waves into the ear. Following are the parts of an outer ear.

Pinna

Most of the outer ear comprises of the pinna or an auricle, which is the visible fleshy part. Helix is the curving and outer rim of the pinna. As the curving of the pinna goes inward, the sound waves reach the antihelix, which opens in the ear canal. Pinna consists of single elastic cartilage that helps to hold and support the ear.

Ear Canal

It is the pathway between the outer ear and the middle ear through which the sound waves travel.

Tragus

The tragus is a small protruding opening that partially covers the ear canal. Interestingly tragus is also the name of the hair at the entrance of the ear.  The parallel side of the tragus is the antitragus.

The Middle Ear

The middle ear lies between the outer and inner ear. It has an air-filled cavity, the tympanic cavity and includes the ossicles.

Ossicles

The ossicles are the three bones Anvil, Hammer, and Stirrup present in the middle ear. The bones attach to the ear with their ligaments. These bones are the smallest bones of the human body. Ossicles help to direct and transmit the sound waves to the cochlea (the inner ear).

Eustachian Tube/Auditory Tube

This part of the middle ear connects to the throat and nasopharynx through the pharyngeal opening.

Round and Oval Windows

These two small windows provide openings to the inner ear.

Inner Ear

The inner ear is the area where the action starts. It sits in the bony labyrinth cavity of the ear. The inner ear has inter-connected tubes and chambers. The cochlea is the most important part of the inner ear. The other chambers with the fluid inside are the vestibular tubules or the semi-circular canals. These structures together form the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear.

Cochlea

This snail-shaped chamber receives sound waves from the middle ear. Any damage to the cochlea can partially or completely deafen you. Sound waves reach the brain through vestibulocochlear nerves present in the cochlea. The interpretation of the sounds waves takes place in the brain. The hairs in the cochlea also help in the transmission of the sound waves.

Conclusion

This was a simple and easy understanding of the physiology of the ear, highlighting the important components of the ears. As remarkable and well functioning the human ear is, it is also very delicate. Too much noise exposure can damage the cochlea and other important components of the ear.

If you experience ear-related problems, then contact us at 646-213-2321 to schedule a consultation. We at Tinnitus Cognitive Therapy have the best tinnitus specialist in NYC who offers advanced cognitive therapies for treating your ear-related problems.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001


Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321