That persistent ringing in your ears might connect to health issues you’d never expect. Tinnitus affects nearly 10% of people in the United States each year, and while it won’t cause hearing damage, it can dominate your waking hours.
At our Brooklyn, New York, office, Stephen D. Kushnick, MD, can break down what’s actually triggering your ear sounds to help you fix the real problem.
Your ears have extensive nerve networks reaching throughout your head. These connections explain how problems elsewhere can create ear sounds.
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) shares nerve pathways with ear structures. Grinding teeth or clenching jaw muscles sends signals directly to the inner ear. Most TMJ-related tinnitus cases clear up after addressing underlying jaw tension.
Hormone imbalances disturb inner ear fluid levels before other symptoms develop. In fact, thyroid conditions often announce themselves through tinnitus. Dr. Kushnick and our team can catch hormone problems early by connecting these dots.
Circulatory shifts near the ear produce pulsatile tinnitus. Patients hear their heartbeat when vessels move closer to hearing structures during pregnancy or weight changes. Narrowed arteries create turbulent flow that resonates in the ear canal.
Urban environments provide constant background noise. Ears handle normal levels without complaint — until accumulated damage surfaces.
Effective tinnitus treatment starts with knowing what’s creating the sounds. Different causes need different solutions.
Earwax removal stops tinnitus instantly when buildup presses against the eardrum. Treating sinus infections eliminates congestion causing phantom sounds. These direct treatments work quickly for many patients.
Modern devices supply the natural audio input your brain needs, reducing its tendency to generate tinnitus. Many include specific features masking tinnitus frequencies while improving overall hearing clarity.
When tests show tumors or mispositioned blood vessels, surgery can eliminate the physical cause completely. These procedures require an exact diagnosis first in order to fix the correct underlying issue.
Specialized sound generators use specific frequencies to help your brain adapt to tinnitus. These aren’t just white noise — they’re sounds that are calibrated to your particular tinnitus patterns, which help gradually reduce your awareness of the sounds.
Thyroid medications correct hormone imbalances causing tinnitus. Allergy treatments reduce inflammation affecting inner ear function. Addressing related health issues often resolves tinnitus without direct ear treatment.
Everyone’s tinnitus has unique patterns, and Dr. Kushnick’s thorough evaluation connects these patterns to your specific health situation to provide a treatment plan that works for you.
Call our Brooklyn, New York, office at 718-509-6120 today, or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment for complete testing at your convenience.
