Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking, or hissing sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot?
     if you answer yes to these questions, you may have tinnitus (tin-NY-tus). Tinnitus is a symptom associated with many forms of hearing loss. It can also be a symptom of other health problems. At least 12 million Americans have tinnitus. Of these, at least 1 million experience it so severely that it interferes with their daily activities. People with sever cases of tinnitus may find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep.

Hearing Loss

     Doctors and scientists have disavowed that people with different kinds of hearing loss also have tinnitus.

Loud noise

     Too much exposure to loud noise can cause noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

Medicine

     More than 200 medicines can cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and you take medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine could be involved.

Other health problems

     Allergies, tumors, and problems in the heart and blood vessels, jaws, and neck can cause tinnitus.

     The most important thing you can do is to go see your doctor. Your doctor can try to determine what is causing your tinnitus. He or she can check to see if it is related to blood pressure, kidney function, diet or allergies. Your doctor can also determine whether your tinnitus is related to any medicine you are taking.
     To learn more about what is causing your tinnitus, your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist, an ear, nose, and throat doctor. He or she will examine your ears and your hearing to try to find out why you have tinnitus. Another hearing professional, an audiologist (aw-dee-ah-luh-jist) can measure your hearing. If you need a hearing aid, an audiologist can fit you with one that meets your needs.

     Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are several treatments that may give you some relief.

Hearing Aids

     Many people with tinnitus also have a hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid makes it easier to hear sounds by making them louder. The better you hear other people talking or the music you like, the less you notice your tinnitus.

Maskers

     Maskers are small electronic devices that use sound to make tinnitus less noticeable. Maskers do not make tinnitus go away, but they make the ringing or roaring seem softer. For some maskers hide tinnitus so well they barely hear it.

Medicine or drug therapy

     Some medicines may ease tinnitus. ASk your doctor about side effects.

Tinnitus retraining therapy

     This treatment uses a combination of counseling and maskers. Specialists help you learn how to deal with your tinnitus better. You may also use maskers to make your tinnitus less noticeable. After a while, some learn how to avoid thinking about tinnitus. It takes time for this treatment to work, but it can be very helpful.

Counseling

     People with tinnitus may become depressed. Talking with a counselor or people in tinnitus support groups may be helpful.

Relaxing

     Learning how to relax is very helpful if the noise frustrates you. STress makes tinnitus seem worse. By relaxing, you have a chance to rest and better deal with the sound.

     Think about things that will help you cope. Many find listening to music very helpful. Focusing on music might help to forget about tinnitus for a while. It can also help mask the sound. Some like to listen to recorded nature sounds, like ocean waves, the wind, or even crickets. Avoiding anything that can make your tinnitus worse. This includes smoking, alcohol, and loud noise. If you live, work or play in noisy environments wear earplugs to protect your hearing nd keep the tinnitus from getting worse. If it is hard to hear over your tinnitus, ask your friends and family to face you when they talk so you can see their faces. Seeing their expressions may help you understand them better. Ask people to speak louder, but not should. Also, tell them that they do not have to talk slowly, just more clearly.