Tinnitus Treatment in Birmingham, AL
Tinnitus, often described as ringing in the ears, is the sense of hearing a sound that is not coming from anywhere around you. For some people it is a faint hum. For others it is loud enough to get in the way of sleep, focus, and daily life. At ExcelENT of Alabama, our ENT physicians and audiologists work together to find what is behind your tinnitus and build a plan to quiet it down. We see patients at our Hoover and Homewood offices.
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Why Tinnitus Needs Both ENT and Audiology Care
Tinnitus sits right at the meeting point of two kinds of care, and that is exactly where ExcelENT is built to help. Sometimes the ringing points to something an ENT physician needs to look at, like earwax buildup, an ear infection, or Eustachian tube trouble. Other times it ties back to hearing loss that an audiologist measures and treats. Most offices send you to one or the other. Here you get both under one roof. Our board-certified ENT physicians, Dr. Christopher Davis and Dr. Chris Walz, rule out the medical causes, and our audiologists handle the hearing testing that pinpoints what is driving the sound. You do not have to drive across town to get a full answer.
What to Expect at Your Tinnitus Evaluation
Your visit usually starts with an ENT exam to check for anything treatable right away, like wax, fluid behind the eardrum, or an infection. From there we pair it with a full hearing evaluation so we can see how your ears are actually working. Because tinnitus and hearing loss so often travel together, that hearing test is one of the most useful tools we have for building a plan that fits you. If the testing shows hearing loss is part of the picture, modern hearing aids often include tinnitus relief features that mask the sound during the day. Not sure whether your hearing has changed? Start with our quick hearing loss quiz.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on what is causing your tinnitus. When we can pin down a specific cause, treating it often eases the sound, whether that means removing an earwax blockage, clearing a middle ear infection, or addressing Eustachian tube dysfunction. When no single cause stands out, which is common, we focus on management strategies that help you live comfortably. Those can include sound therapy, hearing aids with built-in tinnitus masking, tinnitus retraining therapy, and simple habits that protect your hearing going forward. The goal is the same either way: turn the volume down on tinnitus so it stops running your day.
Common Tinnitus Symptoms
When to See a Doctor About Ringing in Your Ears
Occasional ringing after a loud concert usually fades on its own. You should have it checked when the sound sticks around for more than a week, comes with hearing loss or dizziness, shows up in only one ear, or starts to affect your sleep or mood. Sudden ringing paired with sudden hearing loss should be seen right away. To book with one of our Birmingham ENT specialists, call today or request an appointment online.
Tinnitus FAQs
Occasional ringing after a loud concert usually fades on its own. You should have it checked when the sound sticks around for more than a week, comes with hearing loss or dizziness, shows up in only one ear, or starts to affect your sleep or mood. Sudden ringing paired with sudden hearing loss should be seen right away. To book with one of our Birmingham ENT specialists, call Hoover (205) 988-6858 or Homewood (205) 776-3131 or request an appointment online.
At ExcelENT, treatment starts with finding the cause through an ENT exam and a hearing evaluation. From there it may include treating an underlying ear issue, sound therapy, hearing aids with tinnitus masking, or tinnitus retraining therapy. The plan is built around what is driving your specific case.
Yes, for many people they help a lot. Most modern hearing aids include tinnitus masking features that play soft background sound to cover the ringing, and by restoring the sounds you have been missing they often make tinnitus less noticeable. Our audiologists can show you the options at a hearing evaluation.
It can be. Tinnitus and hearing loss frequently occur together, especially when both come from aging or noise exposure. A hearing test is the clearest way to find out, so it is a standard part of a tinnitus workup here. You can start with our hearing loss quiz.
Most tinnitus comes from damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear, usually from aging or loud noise. Other causes include earwax buildup, ear infections, certain medications, blood pressure changes, and head or neck injuries. An exam helps sort out which one applies to you.
Sometimes. When tinnitus traces back to a treatable cause like earwax or an infection, clearing that up can stop the sound. When no single cause stands out, tinnitus may not disappear entirely, but the right management plan can make it far easier to live with.
Yes. Tinnitus is sometimes accompanied by a sense of ear pressure or fullness, which can happen when inner ear nerve endings are affected or when an infection or Eustachian tube problem is involved. Treating the underlying cause often eases both.
See us if the ringing lasts more than a week, affects only one ear, or comes with hearing loss, dizziness, or ear pain. Ringing that starts suddenly along with sudden hearing loss should be checked right away.