Do you hear a ringing, whooshing, or buzzing in your ears? You could be experiencing tinnitus. Tinnitus can occur in one ear or both ears. You may hear it constantly or you may hear it intermittently. Sometimes these symptoms can get worse over time. Although at times tinnitus may seem harmless, there are warning signs that you shouldn’t ignore.

Are you wondering if you should see a professional about your tinnitus? Watch out for these signs:

Your quality of life is negatively affected.

Do you find yourself up at night while struggling to ignore the ringing in your ears? Tinnitus can be a frustrating and ever-present noise that leads to anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Perhaps it leaves you agitated and you snap on a loved one. Don’t let your tinnitus affect your relationships.

You have headaches or blurred vision.

Headaches, blurred vision, and seizures that coincide with your tinnitus could be a sign of high blood pressure. When you have hypertension, the blood flow to your inner ear is restricted. This issue can get worse over time if left untreated.

You have trouble concentrating.

Are the sounds you are hearing so distracting that you can’t focus on the task at hand? Tinnitus does not have to be debilitating. Contact a professional to find ways to manage your tinnitus.

The noise in your ears starts after you switch medications.

Some common medications such as antibiotics, OTC painkillers (when taken several times a day over an extended period of time), opioids, and loop diuretics have side effects that include tinnitus. Consult your doctor about the possibility of switching to a different medication to treat your condition.

You seem to suffer when you’re leaving the gym or the bar.

If you are frequently experiencing tinnitus after leaving a loud place such as a concert, factory, gym, or restaurant - you were in a location with unsafe levels of noise. If you go to these places on a regular basis, exposure to the high noise levels can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent this. Protect your hearing by standing further away from speakers, wearing ear protection, and taking frequent breaks.

Fluctuating hearing loss accompanies the tinnitus.

Do you have hearing loss that comes and goes? Do you feel dizzy on a regular basis? When accompanied by tinnitus, you may need to be tested for Meniere’s disease. This disease causes a fluid imbalance that increases your risk for falls.

Tinnitus is frequently a symptom of hearing loss. There are ways to manage your tinnitus and we are here to help. At Hear Now, we have undergone extensive training to mitigate the challenges that accompany tinnitus. Contact us now to schedule a consultation.