Which sex is the worst about washing up? Why is it so important? We’ve got the dirty truth on how and when to wash your hands.
Understanding Tinnitus -- Diagnosis and Treatment
What is Causing My Tinnitus?
To determine what underlying medical condition may be causing your tinnitus, your doctor will give you a general physical exam, including a careful examination of your ears. Be sure to inform your doctor of all medications you are taking, because tinnitus can be a side effect of some drugs.
If the source of the problem remains unclear, you may be sent to an otologist or an otolaryngologist (both ear specialists) or an audiologist (a hearing specialist) for hearing and nerve tests. As part of your examination, you may be given a hearing test called an audiogram. An imaging technique, such as an MRI or a CT scan, may also be recommended to reveal any structural problem.
Important It is possible that the main title of the report Tinnitus is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
What Are the Treatments for Tinnitus?
If your tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, the first step is to treat that condition. But if the tinnitus remains after treatment, or if it results from exposure to loud noise, health professionals recommend various non-medical options that may help reduce or mask the unwanted noise (See Masking Devices below). Sometimes, tinnitus goes away spontaneously, without any intervention at all. It should be understood, however, that not all tinnitus can be eliminated or reduced, no matter the cause.
If you are having difficulty coping with your tinnitus, you may find counseling and support groups helpful. Ask your doctor for a referral.
If the cause of your tinnitus is excessive earwax, your doctor will clean out your ears by suction with a small curved instrument called a curette, or gently flush it out with warm water. If you have an ear infection, you may be given prescription ear drops containing hydrocortisone to help relieve the itching and an antibiotic to fight the infection.
Surgery may be necessary in rare cases of a tumor, cyst, or otosclerosis (a calcium deposit on the ear bone).
If your tinnitus is the result of temporomandibular joint syndrome -- sometimes called TMJ -- your doctor will probably refer you to an orthodontist or other dental specialist for appropriate treatment.
Medications for Tinnitus
Many drugs have been studied for treating tinnitus. For some, treatment with low doses of anti-anxiety drugs -- such as Valium or antidepressants such as Elavil -- help reduce tinnitus. Lidocaine, a medication used for the treatment of certain types of abnormal heart rhythms, has been shown to relieve tinnitus for some people, but it must be given intravenously or into the middle ear to be effective.
Hearing Aids
If your tinnitus is accompanied by some hearing loss, a hearing aid may be helpful.
Masking Devices
Many people have also benefited from tinnitus maskers, devices resembling hearing aids that play a sound more pleasant than the internal noise produced by the tinnitus. A newer device is a tinnitus instrument, which is a combination of hearing aid and masker.
WebMD Medical Reference
Hot Topics
- Which Drugstore Tooth Whiteners Work Best?
- Is Your Psoriasis Treatment Working?
- Eating Out? Cut Calories, Heartburn
- 16 Tips for Clear Skin
- Top 12 Dog Behavior Problems
- Generic Drugs: What You Need to Know
- Causes and Cures of Bad Breath
- Depression, Pain & Anxiety: What's the Link?
- How Diabetes Affects Your Teeth
- Ulcerative Colitis: Check Your Symptoms

