Audiology
Conditions We Treat
Treatment For Tinnitus
The most effective treatment for tinnitus is to eliminate its underlying cause. If a definitive cause can't be identified, your audiologist or physician will recommend ways of treating your specific tinnitus symptoms. If tinnitus is caused by permanent damage to your ear, recommendations will center on helping you cope with the symptoms.
The following are some of the most common ways of dealing with tinnitus:
- Hearing Aids—If tinnitus is accompanied
by hearing loss, a hearing aid may provide some relief. The
hearing aid will provide the ear with some amount of distraction,
which will lessen the perceived loudness of the tinnitus. Learn
more about hearing aids.
- Masking Devices—Many people benefit
from electronic devices (resembling hearing aids) that play
sounds that are more pleasant than the noise produced by
tinnitus.
- Medications—Many drugs have been studied for treating tinnitus. Thus far,
researchers have not found any that provide a high degree of long-lasting relief.
- Anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs
- Cognitive Therapy—This is a type
of counseling that can help you modify your reaction to tinnitus.
It is
sometimes used in combination with masking devices or
medication to improve results.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy—The brain
has a natural ability to filter out unwanted noise, such as
that produced by computers and refrigerators. With
tinnitus retraining therapy, you receive one-to-one counseling
that help you
"teach" your brain how to screen out tinnitus noise.
- Biofeedback—This is a relaxation technique
that can help you manage stress by changing your reaction
to it. Some people find it helpful in coping with tinnitus.
- Dental Treatment—If tinnitus is caused
by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, a problem with
the joint in your jaw, specialized dental treatment may
help relieve symptoms.
- Cochlear Implants—These electronic
devices, implanted in the ear, are primarily used for those
individuals who are nearly deaf, but like hearing aids, cochlear
implants may provide some degree of tinnitus relief. Learn
more about cochlear implants.
- Lifestyle modifications—Your health profession
may advise you to:
- Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises
- Check and control your blood pressure
- Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco
Learn More About Tinnitus