Can Hearing Protection Prevent Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a common symptom of an underlying condition in the United States. According to one study, around 30-million Americans show symptoms of tinnitus. There’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatment solutions that help to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.

The best treatment method is, as with most other things, prevention. While this isn’t always possible depending on the cause, wearing hearing protection can help to reduce the risk of tinnitus through noise-induced causes. If you believe that you may be experiencing tinnitus, then make an appointment with an audiologist today.

Understanding Tinnitus

Tinnitus is present when someone hears ringing or buzzing in their ears despite there being no external reason for the sound. There are a number of ways that a person can experience tinnitus, including age-related hearing loss, ear trauma, some medications and ear infections. It’s important to have your tinnitus diagnosed by an audiologist, who will be able to identify the underlying cause. In younger people, tinnitus tends to be caused by exposure to loud noises, though this can also affect people of all ages.

How Hearing Protection Helps Prevent Tinnitus

Tinnitus is caused by damage to cilia hairs that are found in the inner ear. There are multiple things that can damage hairs in your ear, including exposure to loud noises. Hearing protection helps to minimize this risk, offering a robust level of protection between your ears and the external noise.

All individuals are at risk of experiencing tinnitus from exposure to loud noises, but it’s especially common among people who are routinely exposed to noise volumes greater than 85 decibels, including factory workers, construction workers and musicians. If you fall into one of those categories or you’re otherwise exposed to loud noises, then make an appointment with an audiologist.

It should be noted that it’s possible to get tinnitus even following a single exposure to loud noises. For instance, if you are in the vicinity of a loud bang and you’re not wearing hearing protection. This can pose a risk to your hearing.

Other Solutions for Tinnitus

Wearing hearing protection can go a long way towards helping to reduce the risk of tinnitus. If you find that you are hearing a buzzing or ringing in your ears, then it’s recommended to make an appointment with an audiologist, who will be able to offer other treatment solutions. For instance, in the case of age-related hearing loss induced tinnitus, many people find that a hearing aid can help alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus. An audiologist can also recommend tinnitus retraining therapy to help with the symptoms you are experiencing.

There’s no way to eliminate the risk of tinnitus, but there are certainly ways to reduce and manage tinnitus effectively. Wearing adequate hearing protection is the best method for people who are routinely exposed to loud noises, like people who work in loud environments and musicians. If you need help finding the right hearing protection or need guidance on how to manage the symptoms of your tinnitus, then make an appointment with an audiologist.