How is Tinnitus Treated?

Tinnitus is a hearing condition that can arise from a broad range of causes, from ear damage all the way through to a simple buildup and blockage of earwax. It presents as a ringing, buzzing, whistling or humming in the ear, and it can be irritating, uncomfortable and even debilitating. While there is no cure for tinnitus itself, treatment of the underlying cause can be effective. Ultimately, however, if the issue cannot be cured, it needs to be managed. Here are some of the primary strategies your medical practitioner will suggest to you that can help you manage the symptoms of tinnitus.

Hearing aids

Tinnitus can be problematic if you also have hearing loss, as when you are straining to listen, the buzzing or ringing can get worse. You have to try and help the parts of the brain that allow you to hear to stop working so hard – and your audiologist is likely to suggest a hearing aid as a good solution. Your hearing aid will help you combat tinnitus in a couple of ways. Firstly, it improves your overall hearing so the ringing or humming is overridden. And secondly, it helps your brain stop paying attention to the tinnitus sounds, leaving you in a much more comfortable state.

Sound therapy

The vast majority of tinnitus sufferers report that the whistling and humming in their ears is worse when they are in a quiet environment. It’s why many with tinnitus struggle to get to sleep at night – the hush of the late evenings and early mornings makes the tinnitus sounds a lot more apparent than they are during the hustle and bustle of the daytime. One solution to this big problem is to use sound therapy or sound enrichment and fill the silence with neutral sounds that help distract you from any ringing in the ears. Some people find leaving a radio or television on effective, and others can use specially-built noise generators that replicate natural and gentle sounds like rustling leaves or lapping waves.

Counseling

Counseling for tinnitus can also be effective. A healthcare professional will work with you and help you understand how to cope with the condition and find ways of managing the condition. Speak to your doctor, audiologist or hearing therapist to find out more.

TRT – Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

When you are experiencing a bout of tinnitus, your brain responds in a specific way. TRT helps you change the response of your brain through a combination of intensive sound therapy and long-term counseling. Many people with severe tinnitus find that TRT can – eventually – become less aware of their problem.

CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Finally, part of the problem with tinnitus is that when you are hearing ringing in your ears it makes you feel anxious, which, in turn, makes the tinnitus even worse. To break this unhelpful cycle, CBT sessions can help you change the way you think about the condition, reduce your anxiety and stress, and make the ringing sounds a lot less noticeable than before.