How is Tinnitus Best Treated?

Relief is possible if you have tinnitus. However, it will require you to work with an audiologist. Every tinnitus case is unique, with several health problems triggering ringing sounds such as hissing, clicking or buzzing in the ears. The sounds can be soft or very loud in one ear or both. However, your audiologist can help you find the right treatment condition for your case.

Hearing Aids

Tinnitus can be a sign of hearing loss. Your brain undergoes some changes to adjust how frequently you perceive sounds when you have hearing loss. Fortunately, hearing aids increase the volume of external sounds by using an amplifier, microphone and speaker. People experiencing tinnitus may notice that the more the hearing is improved, the less they perceive the ringing sounds. Moreover, a survey has shown that 60% of people with tinnitus reported relief after using hearing aids.

Sound Machines

Tinnitus maskers are small noise machines that work by drawing out or overpowering tinnitus sounds in your ears. The sound machines utilize unique noise and tones to stifle the ringing in your ears, so keep this in mind. It is crucial to note that not all tinnitus maskers can work like hearing aids. Yet, a few hearing aids can act as maskers by delivering several sounds to draw out tonal tinnitus. Since hearing loss and tinnitus usually go hand in hand, combining the two can benefit you.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy relies on the brain’s innate ability to habituate a signal and filter it out to the subconscious level before it reaches conscious perception. Habituating sound shouldn’t require any effort. Many auditory sounds include refrigerators, air-conditioners and computer fans, becoming habitual for people. However, the human brain can filter them out since it attaches no importance. Tinnitus retraining therapy can take between 12 and 24 months, although it has a high success rate when carried out by experienced audiologists.

Lifestyle Modifications

You can treat your tinnitus with stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation and exercise. Other lifestyle habits such as drinking and smoking can trigger your tinnitus, so you may want to avoid them. A 2018 study also suggested acupuncture to reduce the severity or loudness of your tinnitus.

While another study suggests that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop tinnitus or hearing problems, medication alterations have proven effective for alleviating tinnitus. Earwax removal can also help with eliminating tinnitus caused by wax plugs in your ear canal. However, it is vital to avoid in-home earwax removal for effective results and relief. Lifestyle modification may be necessary when your audiologist cannot identify the roots of your tinnitus, so keep this in mind. There’s no simple explanation or cure for tinnitus, and it can be frustrating. Yet, the treatment mentioned above, including lifestyle modification, TRT and hearing aids, can improve your life quality significantly.