Do you hear a ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, even when everything around you is quiet? You might be experiencing tinnitus (pronounced TIN-uh-tiss), a condition that affects millions of people.
Tinnitus isn’t a disease, it’s a symptom. It can be caused by many things, including exposure to loud noises (like concerts or power tools), hearing loss, stress or anxiety, and even certain medications. For some, the sound comes and goes. For others, it’s constant and can interfere with focus, sleep, and quality of life.
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to just “live with it” anymore. The audiologists at Center for Hearing and Balance are medically trained to evaluate and treat tinnitus. The first step typically involves a hearing test, followed by identifying potential causes and exploring treatment options tailored to you. In fact, ninety percent of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss, which is why a professional hearing evaluation is essential.
One patient recently shared her experience in a Google review:
“I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Thompson or the staff at this clinic! I spent two years of my life feeling hopeless about tinnitus, but after a couple of tests and a consultation with Dr. Thompson, I finally feel like I am getting my life back!”
Center for Hearing and Balance is proud to be the first clinic in Arkansas to offer Lenire, the first FDA-approved tinnitus treatment device. Lenire works by gently soothing tinnitus through a combination of sound therapy and mild electrical pulses to the tongue. It’s only available through specially trained audiologists and is one of several advanced treatment options offered at the clinic.
If you or someone you love hears ringing in the ears, or if you’ve tried treatments that didn’t work, don’t wait. The road to relief begins with a professional diagnostic hearing test and a personalized plan. There is hope.
Your Amazing Balance System: The Vestibular System
While your ears help you hear, they also help you balance, thanks to something called the vestibular system, located deep inside your inner ear.
This small but mighty system helps your brain understand which direction is “up,” whether you’re moving, and how to stay steady. It uses tiny loops filled with fluid and microscopic crystals that shift as you move. These movements send signals to your brain to help you keep your balance when walking, turning, or spinning.
But when the vestibular system isn’t working properly, things can feel… off. You might feel dizzy (like the room is spinning), unsteady, wobbly, or even nauseated. Common causes include inner-ear infections, vertigo, or BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), which happens when those inner-ear crystals move the wrong way.
Fortunately, many of these conditions can be diagnosed and treated with simple, non-invasive techniques by an audiologist. In some cases, symptoms can be resolved quickly with repositioning maneuvers or targeted vestibular therapy.
For more complex cases, especially when symptoms like vertigo or imbalance make it hard to walk or get out of bed, comprehensive testing is essential. Center for Hearing and Balance offers state-of-the-art diagnostics using the same equipment trusted by leading institutions like Johns Hopkins. In fact, they are the only clinic in the River Valley offering this level of balance testing and treatment.
Struggling with dizziness, imbalance, or ringing in the ears? Call Center for Hearing and Balance at 479.785.3277 to schedule an appointment with one of their licensed audiologists or visit them online at CenterforHearing.net.
Did You Know?
✔ Tinnitus affects about fifteen percent of adults worldwide.
✔ Exposure to loud noise is the leading preventable cause.
✔ Many notice tinnitus more when it’s quiet, especially at night.
Signs You May Have a Balance Disorder:
✔ Dizziness or spinning sensation (vertigo)
✔ Feeling unsteady when walking
✔ Nausea or motion sickness
✔ Needing to hold onto things when standing or moving
✔ Frequent falls or fear of falling
Always check with an audiologist before starting any treatment or lifestyle change.
