Tinnitus Information and Treatment by Naples FL's #1 Audiology Center

Information about Tinnitus

Dr. David R. Wilkinson
Gulfshore Urology

"Tinnitus had become a part of my daily life, asking my patients, my friends, my family to repeat things they had said. Pretending to get the joke in group conversations and laughing, even though I never heard the actual joke. I was fit with my tinnitus therapy devices and began wearing the devices at home for 4 hours each evening. Slowly, the ringing in my ears became only background noise, and was sometimes gone altogether. I am 6 months in to treatment and have seen a dramatic improvement. I am told by my Audiology team at Decibels that it can take up to a year to completely eliminate tinnitus, but I am incredibly encouraged by the results so far. I can't say enough about the knowledge, customer service, and professionalism of the entire Decibels Audiology staff. Thank you to Decibels Audiology for turning my worsening problem into a background noise that is now easily ignored. I will continue to wear my tinnitus therapy devices every day and look forward to continued improvement."

What is Tinnitus?

Sometimes referred to as “ringing” or “buzzing” in the ears, Tinnitus is the perception of sound where there is no external sound source present. Some people describe the sound that they are perceiving as a hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking. Tinnitus can come and go (intermittently), or can be constant. It can also present with single or multiple tones, and the perceived volume can range from quite to very loud.

What causes Tinnitus?

While the exact physiological cause or causes of tinnitus are not known, there are a number of factors which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus symptoms:

Noise Exposure
Head and Neck Trauma
Hypo or Hyperthyroidism
Lyme Disease
Fibromyalgia
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Tumors
Wax
Jaw Misalignment
Cardiovascular Disease
Ototoxicity
Caffeine Intake

How does tinnitus therapy work?

The goal of tinnitus therapy is habituation, or the process of “ignoring” a stimulus without exerting any conscious effort.

Is there a link between hearing loss and tinnitus?

Approximately 90% of people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. This is not surprising because both conditions involve the ear and the brain. Untreated hearing loss can lead to more than just tinnitus. It can leave you without the ability to understand speech.

How do tinnitus devices work?

The new tinnitus therapy devices allow us to treat just tinnitus, just hearing loss, or both at the same time with one device. Our computer software allows us to customize the device for the patient. Not everyone with tinnitus needs tinnitus therapy, some find that just correcting their hearing with a hearing device will alleviate their tinnitus. This is why the tinnitus evaluation is so important; this is not a one-size-fits-all treatment.

How much does it cost?

A device that can provide tinnitus therapy and/or correct hearing loss starts at just $999 per ear and can go up from there, depending on the amount of technology that the patient requires.