That ringing? You don't have to just live with it.
Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound when no actual external sound exists. It's often described as ringing, but it can sound like hissing, buzzing, humming, whistling, or clicking, and it often fluctuates in loudness and quality. According to the CDC, approximately 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus.
Unfortunately, many people are told there is nothing that can be done. That's not accurate. With the most experienced tinnitus specialists in the Kansas City area, H&B KC offers real management options, even for severe cases.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Hearing Loss
Jaw Joint Disorders
Exposure to Loud Noise
Certain Medications
Diet
Head Trauma
Stress
Earwax Impaction
Tinnitus Treatment Options
Diagnostic audiological testing and a medical evaluation will rule out possible medical factors that could be causing or contributing to your tinnitus. Because your tinnitus symptoms are personal and unique in nature, an in-depth interview and tinnitus assessment will help us create a specialized tinnitus management plan for you.
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The primary objective for all currently-available tinnitus management options is to lower the perception and disturbance of tinnitus, allowing the patient to live a more comfortable, unencumbered, and content life. The number one treatment for tinnitus is the use of sound therapy, which can improve your hearing if necessary, and often reduce or eliminate your perception of tinnitus. There are a number of sound therapy options, including:
Hearing Aids
The most successful option for tinnitus patients who also have hearing loss. Hearing aids can improve communication ability while providing significant relief from tinnitus symptoms.
Tinnitus Therapy
A specialized combination of sound therapy and counseling that promotes long-term habituation, reducing the brain's response to the tinnitus signal over time.
Behavioral Therapy
Proven strategies shown to help reduce tinnitus-related distress, anxiety, and depression.
What is Lenire?
Lenire is a tinnitus treatment device proven to be effective in a recent large-scale clinical trial. Hearing & Balance Specialists of Kansas City is thrilled to be an exclusive area provider of the Lenire device.
How Long Until Treatment with Lenire is Complete?
The clinical studies Neuromod Devices conducted for Lenire had a 12-week treatment duration; however, Lenire is intended for use for as long as necessary. A suitably qualified Lenire Provider will recommend an appropriate treatment timeline during a patient’s initial tinnitus assessment. Upon completing your initial treatment plan, your Lenire Provider will advise the patient about the continued use of Lenire.
Why Tongue and Ear Stimulation?
Previous research has indicated that combined stimulation of the nerves on the tongue and the auditory nerve via the ear drives stronger adaptive neuroplasticity. This can reduce the brain’s attention and sensitivity to the tinnitus sound to a greater extent when compared to stimulating one nerve at a time.
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What Can a Patient Do During Lenire Sessions?
It is important that patients allow their brain to focus on the Lenire treatment session. To that end, it is recommended that patients follow these guidelines.
• Each 30-minute Lenire session should be completed in a quiet, relaxing and clutter-free environment
• Patients should sit comfortably during Lenire sessions. • Patients are advised against using devices such as phones, laptops, tablets and televisions.
• Patients can read a book if they are struggling to relax.
Hyperacusis
What is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis, also referred to as collapsed sound tolerance, occurs when normal, everyday sounds become uncomfortably loud or even painful. It can come on suddenly or gradually get worse. In hyperacusis, ordinary sounds can create annoyance, irritation, or discomfort. Due to a fear of being exposed to these sounds, those suffering from hyperacusis often become more withdrawn and isolated if the problem is not evaluated and managed effectively. There are many causes for hyperacusis. It can be a symptom of a medical condition. However, it is not unusual to find no clear reason for it. A thorough audiological and medical evaluation is critical for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Causes
Hyperacusis affects approximately 40% of tinnitus patients, but it can occur in isolation. Research is greatly needed to understand the exact pathophysiology of the condition, but many agree that it is related to over-amplification (hyperactivity) in the hearing system. This can be caused by excessive exposure to loud noise whether sudden or gradual), reduced hearing, and other possibilities. Hyperacusis varies between and within individuals, and, like tinnitus, it depends on each person’s emotional state and listening environment. If no underlying medical condition exists, audiological management using sound therapy and counseling can be quite successful. The methods to promote sound desensitization for hyperacusis are very similar to managing tinnitus.
Evaluation and Management
Hearing & Balance Specialists of Kansas City believes that understanding each individual’s experience with sound sensitivity will help direct the treatment plan accordingly. Each patient who visits our clinic benefits from a thorough case history, patient interview, and diagnostic audiological evaluation. In some cases, we can identify the presence of hyperacusis in the sound booth as well as provide a tinnitus assessment when they coexist. These results are described in detail following the evaluation.
If audiological management is indicated, sound sensitivity conditions are managed in a similar way to tinnitus. Although each individual is unique, a combination approach using sound therapy and counseling (or coaching) has been shown to be successful. Please contact our office for more information.
Misophonia
What is misophonia?
Misophonia, also referred to as 4S, selective sound sensitivity, and soft sound sensitivity, can be defined as an abnormally strong emotional reaction to certain or specific sounds. Patients who suffer from misophonia define a specific set of “trigger” sounds, which typically includes sounds made by other people such as oral or eating sounds (i.e. chewing, crunching, popping, lip smacking, whistling), breathing sounds (i.e. sniffling, sniffing, mouth breathing), and repetitive sounds (i.e. typing, pen clicking, fingernails tapping). These sounds trigger an instantaneous emotional — and sometimes physical — reaction. The misophonic patient may feel anger, disgust, or irritation. They may experience muscle tension, anxiety, or a sensation of being trapped. This condition often starts in childhood or early adolescence, can carry into adulthood, and disrupt the patient’s quality of life as well as relationships with others.
Research is greatly needed to describe an accurate definition, diagnosis and treatment. Currently, audiologists are part of a multidisciplinary team successfully helping misophonia sufferers.
Evaluation and Management
Hearing & Balance Specialists of Kansas City believes that understanding each individual’s experience with misophonia will help direct the treatment plan accordingly. Each patient who visits our clinic benefits from a thorough case history, patient interview, and diagnostic audiological evaluation. In some cases, we can identify the presence of Misophonia in the sound booth as well as provide a tinnitus assessment when they coexist. These results are described in detail following the evaluation.
If audiological management is indicated, sound sensitivity conditions are managed in a similar way to tinnitus. Although each individual is unique, a combination approach using sound therapy and counseling (or coaching) has been shown to be successful. Please contact our office for more information.