Home » Tinnitus

Tinnitus

While tinnitus typically begins with a hearing loss, it is not exclusively an auditory problem. It is a result of neurological changes within the auditory system and within the parts of the brain that influence conscious attention and emotional state.

No single explanation applies to all cases, but the process outlined below describes one of the more commonly accepted theories about what causes tinnitus.

	When the natural balance is upset by a hearing loss, the neurological activity is altered, and this altered activity is then interpreted by the brain as sound. This results in whistling or ringing sounds commonly known as tinnitus. Tinnitus most commonly results from hearing loss caused by exposure to excessive or loud noises, however it can also be caused by aging, ototoxic drugs, Temporo-mandibular joint disorder (TMJ), depression, anxiety, Lyme disease or thyroid disorders, as well as ear infections or wax in the ear.

	Normally, background neurological activity in the brain is covered up by everyday sounds.

	Neurological changes may then cause the perceived sound to be more noticeable and disturbing. For some people, the presence of tinnitus is troubling, and so the brain treats it as important and focuses on it, increasing awareness. This "increased awareness" can lead to stress, resulting in further enhancement by the emotional centers of the brain, and further amplification of the tinnitus. Additionally, the brain can try to compensate for the hearing loss by "turning up" the sensitivity of the hearing system. This not only amplifies the tinnitus but can also make ordinary sounds uncomfortably loud for some people, further adding to stress and anxiety.

The result is a cycle of symptoms that can be self-reinforcing, leading to progressive worsening of the tinnitus over time. These factors have made tinnitus very difficult to treat in the past.

The good news is that Neuromonics has developed a breakthrough treatment that can significantly reduce tinnitus awareness and disturbance for over 90% of suitable patients affected by tinnitus.

I am the daughter of this client of yours and I would like to inform you of my mother’s death on May 5, 2011. It is because of your services and your hearing aids that my mother’s last 2 years were so much better. When she came to live with us I found her to becoming withdrawn. I ascertained it was due to her hearing loss. I prayed for what company for hearing aids to go when I got your advertisement and felt I was led to you. We went to your office on Med Court and was serviced by a wonderful person, Dennis Hackney, who took patient time with my mother to test her and determine which hearing aids were better for her. We purchased them and I told Dennis it was more important to us to have good service than anything else. From then on he made home visits making sure my mother had…Genie Benavides
RN

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Taylor, My two year old little girl, Ellie, has a permanent, bilateral hearing loss, which was diagnosed at birth. In April of 2010, it was time for my husband and I to purchase hearing aids for Ellie.Thus, I began to call every hearing center & audiologist in the San Antonio & Boerne area listed on the internet. After making over 20 phone calls, I was blessed to find the SA Hearing Center off Judson Road. A very helpful lady, Maudi, patiently listened to what my (Ellie’s) needs were and told me a gentleman named Dennis would be calling me back to see if he could possibly help me find hearing aids for Ellie. I was beyond thrilled to hear this!! Dennis returned my call within 24 hours and explained to me that he has never dealt with pediatrics, but would be happy to meet…Tiffany Gold

The main reason that I am writing this letter is to emphasize his work with hearing aids. He is an excellent technician when it comes to fitting hearing aids and there is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the best. One of the reasons that I can say that is because he actually fitted me and I ended up with a programmable unit in both ears and have been delighted with the service, etc. Larry insists that his patients have good follow up and there is never any squabble about it’s going to be fixed right or they will have to know why. Just to add a personal note – Larry is well thought of in the community. He is married and happily so. He does not have any bad habits that would affect him in any way. I would recommend Larry as your hearing aid specialist without any problem and know…Charles T. Meadows, M.D.
Professor of Surgery
Department of General Surgery
The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler

My name is Steve. I have lived with single-sided deafness (SSD) for nearly 50 years. I heard about a hearing aid system called the Phonak CROS that could help me overcome the challenges of SSD. Fortunately for me, I found the New Braunfels Hearing Center. Within a short time, I was fitted with Phonak hearing aids and life began to change immediately! For the first time, I could clearly hear people talking on my deaf side. I began to hear crisply a variety of sounds that were previously muffled. My confidence has grown when participating in group conversations, using the telephone, attending meetings and other social functions because I can now hear what people are saying regardless of their position to me. My self-esteem has improved dramatically because I can engage others to…Steve

San Antonio Hearing Centers

628 B South Business 35,
New Braunfels, TX

78130
(830) 387-2389
Office Hours:
M-F 9:00am to 5:00pm
Closed for lunch
12:00pm to 1:15pm

San Antonio Hearing Centers

8003 Broadway St,
San Antonio, TX

78209
(210) 428-6900
Office Hours:
M-F 9:00am to 5:00pm
Closed for lunch
12:00pm to 1:15pm

San Antonio Hearing Centers

12413 Judson Rd, Ste 200,
San Antonio, TX

78233
(210) 485-1996
Office Hours:
M-F 9:00am to 5:00pm

San Antonio Hearing Centers

510 Med Court, Ste 203,
San Antonio, TX

78258
(210) 390-0899
Office Hours:
M 9:00am to 3:00pm
T-F 9:00am to 4:30pm
Closed for lunch
12:00pm to 1:15pm

San Antonio Hearing Centers

8600 Wurzbach Road, Ste 500,
San Antonio, TX

78240
(210) 390-0839
Office Hours:
M 9:00am to 3:00pm
T-F 9:00am to 4:30pm
Closed for lunch
12:00pm to 1:15pm