Hooter Hearing — Waco, TX
Tinnitus Treatment
Ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ears? You're not alone — and there are real options that can help.
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound — ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or humming — when there's no external source. It can be constant or come and go. It can be barely noticeable or overwhelming.
About 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus. For most, it's a mild annoyance. For others, it interferes with sleep, concentration, work, and quality of life.
The important thing to know: you don't have to just live with it. There are real, evidence-based approaches that help most people manage their tinnitus and get relief.
Common Causes
- • Hearing loss (the most common cause)
- • Noise exposure — concerts, machinery, firearms
- • Ear wax buildup
- • Aging
- • Medications (some are ototoxic)
- • Stress and fatigue
- • Head or neck injuries
What It Can Sound Like
- • Ringing or high-pitched tone
- • Buzzing or humming
- • Hissing or static
- • Clicking or pulsing
- • Roaring (like ocean waves)
Everyone's tinnitus is different. That's why treatment starts with understanding yours.
Treatment Options
There's no single fix for tinnitus — but there are several approaches that work well, often in combination. Here's what we offer.
🔊 Hearing Aids with Tinnitus Features
For many patients, hearing aids are the most effective tinnitus treatment. When hearing loss is present — which it is in about 90% of tinnitus cases — amplifying the sounds you're missing reduces the contrast with the tinnitus and makes it less noticeable.
Both Oticon and Phonak offer built-in tinnitus sound generators that play soothing relief sounds directly through the hearing aid, customized to your tinnitus.
🎵 Sound Therapy
Sound therapy uses external sounds to reduce the perception of tinnitus. This can be as simple as a fan, white noise machine, or nature sounds — or as targeted as professionally programmed relief sounds matched to your tinnitus frequency.
The goal isn't to drown out the tinnitus, but to give your brain something else to focus on so it stops fixating on the internal sound.
🧠 Education & Counseling
Understanding tinnitus takes away its power. A lot of the distress comes from not knowing what's happening or fearing it will get worse. We explain what's going on, why your brain is doing this, and what you can realistically expect.
For many people, understanding alone provides significant relief.
🩺 Medical Evaluation & Referrals
Sometimes tinnitus has a treatable medical cause — ear wax, medication side effects, blood pressure issues, or jaw problems. A comprehensive hearing evaluation is the right starting point.
If we suspect a medical cause, we'll refer you to the right specialist. No guessing.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Hearing Evaluation
We start with a comprehensive hearing test to determine if hearing loss is contributing to your tinnitus.
Tinnitus Assessment
We talk about your tinnitus — when it started, what it sounds like, how it affects your daily life, and what you've tried so far.
Treatment Plan
Based on your results, we recommend the best approach — whether that's hearing aids with tinnitus features, sound therapy, a referral, or a combination.
Ongoing Support
Tinnitus management isn't a one-visit thing. We follow up, adjust, and make sure your treatment is actually working for you.
Tinnitus Questions
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It's commonly described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or humming in one or both ears. It affects roughly 15–20% of people and is especially common in adults over 50.
There's no universal cure for tinnitus, but it can be effectively managed. Many patients experience significant relief through hearing aids with tinnitus masking features, sound therapy, and counseling. The right approach depends on the cause and severity.
Not always, but they frequently go together. About 90% of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. A hearing evaluation can determine whether hearing loss is a factor and guide the best treatment approach.
Modern hearing aids from Oticon and Phonak include built-in tinnitus sound generators that play soothing sounds to mask or reduce the perception of tinnitus. By improving your ability to hear external sounds, they also reduce the contrast between the tinnitus and your environment — making it less noticeable overall.
An audiologist is often the best first step. A comprehensive hearing evaluation can identify whether hearing loss or other factors are contributing to your tinnitus. If a medical cause is suspected, we'll refer you to an ENT for further evaluation.
“I’d had ringing in my ears for two years and just accepted it as my new normal. After one visit with Dr. Hooter she explained exactly what was happening and got me fitted with hearing aids that have a built-in sound therapy program. The difference is remarkable. I actually sleep through the night now.”
You Don't Have to Live With It
If tinnitus is affecting your life, let's talk about what can help. Start with an evaluation.
6600 Sanger Ave #11, Waco, TX 76710 · Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:30 PM