What is That Sound?
- By lemaster
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- 19 Apr, 2017
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Tinnitus: symptoms, causes, and coping mechanisms

Hearing ringing, buzzing, clicking, or hissing sounds when no external sound is present are signs of tinnitus. These sounds can come and go, or be bothersome all the time. This health condition is commonly caused by age-related hearing loss, exposure to loud noises, earwax blockage, or abnormal bone growth. Some less common causes include Meniere’s disease, TMJ disorder, head injury, neck injury, and acoustic neuroma.
Tinnitus can negatively impact your quality of life, so it’s best to see a hearing specialist. In the meantime, there are coping strategies you can try:
Excessive noise, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and aspirin can aggravate tinnitus. If you work in a loud environment, wear ear protection to minimize your exposure to loud sounds.
A white-noise machine with soothing sounds of a waterfall, ocean waves, birds, etc. can help you relax and fall asleep. Even turning on a fan at night can help.
Since hearing aids amplify other sounds, they can draw attention away from the tinnitus. Talk to us about how hearing instruments can be helpful.
Stress can intensify tinnitus symptoms, so take some time to devote yourself to stress management techniques. Whether it’s getting a massage, going to a yoga class, or taking a walk, stimulating endorphins can help.
The best way to address any hearing problem is to sit down with hearing specialists, like us, for a hearing screening. At Bieri Hearing Specialists in Saginaw, MI, audiology is our area of expertise. Together, we can discuss your tinnitus symptoms, possible causes, and coping mechanisms to try and relieve you of any discomfort.
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Have you ever gotten your hearing checked, or if you have, has it been several years since your last checkup? For most people without any significant hearing issues, annual hearing checks are a low priority. However, this is not the best way to preserve your hearing. Doctors suggest getting an annual hearing screening after you turn 21, before any issues start to arise. Some doctors perform simple checks during physicals, but seeing a specialist will give you an added benefit.
A hearing screening is more in-depth than a regular test. This screening actually tests you to see if you need additional evaluation afterward. Thanks to the simple pass/fail system, you’ll know right away if you need additional screening. If you’re concerned about your hearing, receiving a screening will be your best option.
What leads to hearing loss?
Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the U.S. In fact, according to the Better Hearing Institute , up to 30% of people over age 60 experience hearing loss. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, have been linked to hearing loss. But mostly, people lose their hearing from everyday life and noises. There are few cures for hearing loss, which means that prevention is the key. Having a hearing screening every year is ideal to ensure that your hearing is working well and address any small issues before they become big ones.
Musicians, miners, soldiers, carpenters and farmers are just a few of the people who often experience hearing issues. Those who frequently take antibiotics, chemotherapy, aspirin, loop diuretics, erectile dysfunction medication, and other medications are also at risk. If you believe you might be at risk for hearing loss, the best option is to catch it early on and learn more from your doctor. The staff at Bieri Hearing Specialists can help you prevent hearing loss with our hearing screenings. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
As you age, your hearing starts to decrease, but prolonged loud noise will also aid to hearing loss. When the tiny hair cells in your inner ear are damaged, it’s virtually impossible to repair them, which leads to hearing loss and deafness.
It is essential that you prevent noise-related damage that is caused from loud noise as much as possible. If you work in an industry that is loud, you must wear correct ear protection to protect your hearing. You can also come and get hearing screenings periodically to check on your hearing and talk with our hearing specialists about ways to protect your hearing.
Tips for Safer Listening
- Use earplug/protection on the job: If you work in construction, you must wear ear protection at all times while on the jobsite.
- Use the 60:60 rule: while listening to music, play it at 60% maximum volume for no longer than 60 minutes a day.
- Be careful in the car: keeping your windows up while listening to music creates a confined space that can hurt your ears. Try turning the volume down.
- Give your ears a rest: your ears may need up to 16 hours of quiet to recover from a loud night at the bar or at a concert. Take some time to let your ears rest will help you from experiencing hearing injuries.
- Don’t use cotton swabs: never stick a cotton swab into your ear canal. Your ears are self-cleaning organs and wax in your ears is normal.
Here at Bieri Hearing Specialists, we want to protect you from hearing loss. Please get educated on the steps you can take to lessen your chances of having hearing loss. If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to call our office to talk with our hearing specialists. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
If you have suffered hearing loss in one or both ears and don’t like the idea of wearing traditional hearing aids, Bieri Hearing Specialists can provide you with hearing screenings to determine if Cochlear Implants are right for your needs, in lieu of traditional hearing instruments. Our audiology experts are dedicated to making sure you get the right solutions for your hearing loss problems. Cochlear Implants are state-of-the-art devices that transmit signals that stimulate the cochlear nerve and improve your hearing.
Cochlear Implants work by bypassing the
peripheral auditory system, picking up sounds and sending the appropriate
signals directly to the cochlear nerve, creating the impression of sound. Most
Cochlear Implants consist of the following components:
External
- One or more
microphones to pick up sounds in the environment around you.
- A processor that
works to filter sounds, prioritizing the sounds of audible speech.
- A transmitter
which uses electromagnetic induction to send power and signals of processed
sound to the internal device.
Internal
- A
receiver/stimulator that received the speech processor’s signals and converts
them into electric impulses.
- An electrode
array embedded directly into the cochlea.
The implant requires a surgical procedure and may require treatments and/or adjustmentsfor the first few months after the procedure to ensure that everything is working properly. We canmeet with you to discuss your hearing loss and determine if Cochlear Implants are right for you. Call us today to schedule your initial consultation.





Most old hearing aids attempted to help just by increasing the volume of every sound. But today's devices like Oticon’s new Intiga incorporate the latest breakthroughs in microprocessors design, audio signal processing technology and materials science. So rather than simply turning up the volume, they work by sharpening the focus of what you hear. With instruments such as Intiga, it's easier to understand and respond to a soft, high-pitched voice - a child or an elderly person, for example, because the work to help your brain recognize natural speech cues and noise distraction. Intiga even uses Bluetooth technology to let you stream sound from a TV, phone, computer, or other Bluetooth device, for a high-end audio entertainment experience. So this is not your grandmother’s ear trumpet. Nor is it your father’s case-and-cord hearing aid. A hearing instrument like the Intiga is exquisitely programmable to match your hearing profile. Intiga works with your brain to help you hear more naturally, even in difficult hearing situations.
Ironically, this myth persists because modern hearing instruments like Intiga are so well-concealed that most people never see them. The styles most people see in public are actually older generation units worn either directly in the ear or in a large behind-the-ear case. Instruments like the Intiga are an astonishing blend of camouflage and miniaturization that disappear, tinted to blend with your hair and skin color. They are ultra-light, and you barely feel the Intiga receiver as it hovers over your ear canal and delivers sparkling, vibrant sound.
