Millions of Americans have experienced tinnitus (ringing in the ears) at some point in their lives. According to The National Library of Medicine, the prevalence of tinnitus in the United States is approximately one in 10 adults.
While we don’t always know what causes tinnitus, there are some steps you can take that may help you prevent developing symptoms.
Four Ways to Prevent Tinnitus 
- Protect your ears from loud noise. Exposure to noise levels over 85 decibels can damage the hair cells of your inner ear and cause tinnitus as well as hearing loss. If you engage in loud hobbies like going to rock concerts, riding motorcycles or hunting and shooting, use proper hearing protection in the form of earplugs, earmuffs or custom earmolds.
- Prevent ear infections. Tinnitus can be a symptom of ear infections. Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears. Sticking any object into your ear can actually push wax deeper into the ear canal, leading to earwax buildup and, potentially, infection. Instead, if you feel like you have too much earwax, you can consider using an at-home removal kit or, better yet, contacting an ENT to perform a safe earwax removal.
- Listen to music on your headphones at a reasonable volume. If you like listening to music on your headphones while at work or exercising, make sure you don’t have the volume up too loud. Many health apps on smartphones can track the decibels that you’re listening at. Make sure to keep it within safe levels.
- Minimize stress and anxiety. Sometimes tinnitus can begin when you’re experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety. Try to take steps to manage your stress levels by getting enough rest, engaging in relaxing activities like meditation or taking a class at Evergreen Yoga & Wellness in Katy.
What To Do If You Develop Tinnitus Symptoms
If you find that you are experiencing a persistent ringing, clicking or other noise in your ear that is interfering with your daily activities or affecting your quality of life, make an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Regardless of whether a cause for your symptoms can be determined, a specialist can help work with you to manage your tinnitus. Possible treatment options include:
- Tinnitus retraining therapy
- Acoustic therapy
- Hearing aids
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Steroid injections
To learn more about tinnitus or to make an appointment with one of our specialists, call Today’s Hearing today.