Our team knows how challenging tinnitus can be and provides proven treatments to help you feel better. We identify what's causing your tinnitus (like hearing loss or noise exposure) and create a personalized plan to ease your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.
Tinnitus—a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound in the ears—can interfere with focus, rest, and peace of mind.
For some, it’s an occasional distraction; for others, a constant presence that disrupts sleep and concentration. While it’s not usually a sign of something serious, tinnitus can significantly impact quality of life if left untreated.
At Southern California Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Allergy (SoCal ENT), we take a comprehensive, compassionate approach to tinnitus care. Our ENT specialists and audiologists use advanced diagnostic tools to pinpoint the root cause—whether related to hearing loss, noise exposure, ear conditions, or other factors—and design a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Through a combination of medical therapy, sound management, and lifestyle guidance, we help patients find clarity, calm, and relief from the noise.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound—such as ringing, buzzing, humming, or hissing—when no external noise is present. It can affect one or both ears and may vary in pitch, volume, and frequency. For some, tinnitus is a faint background noise; for others, it can be persistent and disruptive, especially in quiet settings or at night.
The condition is surprisingly common, affecting an estimated 10–25% of people at some point in their lives. While tinnitus itself is not a disease, it is often a symptom of an underlying issue such as hearing loss, noise exposure, ear infections, or circulatory changes. Understanding the cause is key to finding effective, personalized relief.
Tinnitus can arise from a variety of ear-related or systemic conditions that affect how sound is processed. Identifying the cause of tinnitus is essential to creating an effective treatment plan and improving long-term hearing health.
Common causes include:
The most frequent trigger, often linked to age-related or noise-induced damage to the inner ear.
Fluid buildup, earwax impaction, or infection can temporarily distort hearing and cause ringing.
Prolonged exposure to loud environments or a single intense sound can damage the hair cells of the inner ear.
Certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and high doses of aspirin or NSAIDs may cause tinnitus as a side effect.
Natural aging or inner ear disorders, such as Ménière’s disease, can interfere with sound transmission.
In rare cases, blood flow irregularities or nerve disorders may lead to pulsating or rhythmic tinnitus.
Tinnitus has many causes, so seeing an expert is the first step to finding the proper treatment.
Tinnitus treatment is highly individualized, focusing on addressing its underlying cause and reducing the sound's perceived loudness. While there is no universal cure, a combination of medical management, sound therapy, and advanced technology can significantly improve comfort and quality of life.
When tinnitus is linked to another condition, treating the source often brings relief. This may include:
External sound can help the brain tune out tinnitus by balancing internal noise with soothing background sounds. Common options include:
TRT combines counseling and sound therapy to help the brain gradually filter out tinnitus. Over time, patients become less aware of the noise, reducing both stress and sensitivity to it.
SoCal ENT offers NeoSensory Duo, an innovative device that pairs sound therapy with gentle vibrations on a wearable wristband. This dual stimulation retrains the brain’s auditory pathways, helping reduce tinnitus perception within weeks of consistent use.
While medications do not eliminate tinnitus, they can ease related symptoms such as anxiety or sleep disturbance. In some cases, zinc, magnesium, or B vitamins may offer mild improvement. Prescription options may also be recommended for patients struggling with severe stress or insomnia caused by tinnitus.
Effective tinnitus management can transform daily life by easing discomfort, improving focus, and restoring peace of mind. At SoCal ENT, treatment plans are designed to provide both immediate relief and long-term coping strategies.
Key benefits include:
With the right treatment approach, tinnitus no longer has to dominate your day—it becomes something you control, not something that controls you.
You may benefit from tinnitus treatment if you regularly hear ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds that aren’t caused by an external source. The best treatment approach depends on the frequency and intensity of your symptoms, as well as any underlying conditions such as hearing loss, ear infections, or noise exposure.
At SoCal ENT, our ENT specialists and audiologists conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your tinnitus and how it impacts your daily life, sleep, and concentration. From there, we design a personalized plan—combining medical care, sound therapy, and modern neuromodulation options—to help you find lasting relief and restore peace to your hearing.
With the right treatment, many patients experience a dramatic reduction in the intensity and impact of tinnitus. Over time, the brain learns to tune out the ringing or buzzing, making it less noticeable and easier to manage.
At SoCal ENT, patients often begin noticing improvement within a few weeks to a few months—especially when using sound therapy, tinnitus retraining, or innovative options like NeoSensory Duo. While tinnitus itself may not disappear entirely, these treatments help restore focus, improve sleep, and reduce stress related to constant noise.
Our goal is to help you regain comfort, confidence, and control—so the sounds of tinnitus fade into the background, allowing you to fully reengage with daily life.
Some people experience temporary tinnitus that resolves on its own. In contrast, chronic tinnitus often needs ongoing management strategies.
Tinnitus isn't always tied to hearing loss. Many people have tinnitus but don't suffer from major hearing issues.
Stress and anxiety can make tinnitus seem louder. Techniques like relaxation and sound therapy might offer relief.
While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, effective treatments can greatly ease symptoms and enhance life quality.
Start with a thorough assessment by our ENT experts to identify the most suitable treatment for you.
