Top Tips for Dealing with Tinnitus

Are you struggling with tinnitus? This condition causes you to hear noises that aren’t actually audible to other people. The noise in question can differ depending on the individual. However, it could be anything from the sound of whistling to a ringing or buzzing. Because tinnitus is often shrugged off as something you just have to learn to live with, you may not be familiar with the many different treatment methods. First though, there are a few questions that you need to answer when determining the best way to cope with this condition.

How severe is your tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be experienced intermittently or constantly, and this could impact the best treatment for your specific case. Tinnitus can be caused by a number of different things, including:

• Present hearing loss
• Noise damage
• Impacted earwax
• Medication
• Stress
• Abnormal growths

Finding the reasoning behind your tinnitus can provide the optimal treatment. Tinnitus caused by something like medication or earwax may be reduced or resolved with a simple prescription switch or professional ear cleaning. While something caused by noise or hearing loss may benefit more from hearing aids or sound machines.

Hearing aids and tinnitus

Hearing aids are one of the most widely-recommended treatments for tinnitus – even if you don’t have an actual hearing loss present. Hearing devices can be equipped with a number of features, including a masking option, that can help override your tinnitus symptoms. If you do have hearing loss, using hearing aids can provide the right amplification needed to help you hear better, which can in turn, reduce tinnitus sounds, as well. There are a variety of hearing aid styles available, including behind the ear, in the ear and in the canal. Your audiologist can recommend the right solution to treat your tinnitus symptoms.

Try therapy

In addition to hearing aids, you may also benefit from a treatment known as tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). TRT works by training your brain to focus on something other than the tinnitus sounds, providing a much-needed break from this barrage of noise. Think of it like the ticking of a clock. While a ticking of a clock is certainly usually loud enough to hear, you will actually only consciously hear it if you focus on the noise. The same is true for your tinnitus. It might seem louder because you are focusing on it. If you can stop thinking about the noise, you may not notice it at all and it will seem far quieter.

When used with hearing aids, TRT is incredibly successful in helping to cope with and find relief from your tinnitus symptoms.

Support therapies

While TRT is an excellent way to learn how to overcome the sounds caused by tinnitus, your audiologist may also recommend traditional therapy or support groups to help you manage the emotions that can be caused by this condition. Tinnitus can bring out a range of emotions, including stress, anxiety, social isolation and even depression. If you experience tinnitus during the night, you may also experience sleep deprivation, which can aggravate the above emotional symptoms. Talking with someone about the emotions you’re feeling or with a group of people who understand your symptoms can offer you the peace of mind you need to cope with this condition.

Use sound machines

You might also want to think about investing in a sound machine. This device can be used to play a more peaceful or soothing noise to mask your tinnitus. This could be anything from white noise, pink noise, red noise or even the sound of ocean waves. There are even apps that can provide you with a range of different sounds to choose that you can then play through a speaker system or even your phone. Your audiologist can help you utilize these devices in tandem with therapy or hearing aids to achieve the best relief possible.

Preventing tinnitus

Even if you already have tinnitus, you can help prevent it from worsening by taking a few precautionary steps. This means protecting your hearing from loud noises. Invest in a pair of earplugs, earmuffs or noise-cancelation headphones to ensure your hearing is protected when surrounded by sound.

When do you need to see an audiologist?

If your tinnitus is becoming unmanageable, you need to make sure that you speak to an audiologist. They can provide you with extra advice and support. They may even recommend hearing aids that offer a range of benefits including the same type of systems as sound boxes to block out noise. Contact ENT Physicians, Inc for advice and support at (419) 318-4987 today.