Tinnitus sufferers may find it difficult to hear when engaging in conversations or trying to decipher environmental sounds. Tinnitus causes a perception of ringing or chirping in the ears, making it difficult to hear. There is no cure for tinnitus, as tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as a hearing impairment, wax buildup, or stress and depression. However, you can learn to filter out some of the noise and develop effective hearing skills.
Step 1
Reduce noise levels. Turning up the TV to hear the program better won't actually help you hear better. In fact, loud audio or other background noise can make tinnitus worse. Moreover, increasing audio volume on any electronic device can damage your hearing over time. Keep audio at a moderate level or turn the audio off altogether. Alternatively, use ear plugs if you are in a noisy environment to calm tinnitus symptoms and preserve hearing.
Step 2
Relax and avoid fatigue. The American Tinnitus Association suggests that anxiety may provoke tinnitus and make it worse. Learn relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety, and reduce workload and stress to avoid becoming tired. You may strain to hear with tinnitus, requiring more strength and energy to concentrate on hearing conversations and sounds. Fatigue lessens your hearing ability as your body and mind already feel taxed, making hearing even more difficult.
Step 3
Clean wax buildup in both ears regularly. Your doctor can provide the appropriate cleaning method to use at home.
Step 4
Learn to lip read to improve hearing and communication skills. Lisa L. Hunter, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Health at the University of Utah, says that anyone with a hearing loss must relearn hearing skills. Lip-reading skills are hearing skills that may develop without any formal training, as you naturally adapt and compensate to the condition over time. Formal training to develop hearing skills may be available at community colleges as non-credit courses. Classes or workshops that teach lip-reading skills can often be found in universities, hospitals, clinics, and other private or community-based organizations (see Resources).
Step 5
Purchase a white noise machine. A white noise machine may reduce tinnitus symptoms and improve your ability to hear. These devices often simulate natural environmental sounds such as ocean waves or falling rain. White noise may help you drown out the irritating sounds and pitches caused by tinnitus, so you can hear the faint noises--and moderately louder voices--around you.
Step 6
Receive directive counseling and sound therapy. Tinnitus Habituation, also called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy or TRT, retrains the conditioned response to tinnitus so you can de-emphasize the ringing in the ears and hear the sounds in your environment. Ask your doctor for a referral to an audiologist or hearing clinic where you can receive TRT services. The Oregon Health and Science University Tinnitus clinic suggests that using TRT for rehabilitation improves the quality of life for tinnitus patients.
Tips and Warnings
- Talk to your doctor or audiologist for more information on classes or workshops, and ask if there are fees or other requirements for attending, such as books or supplies. Vocational rehabilitation services will often pay for these courses, and your insurance carrier may pay for services such as sound therapy.
- Never stick cotton swabs into the ear canal. Use cotton swabs only for cleaning the external ear. Alternative earwax cleaning methods include using candle wax to remove wax buildup. The Northwestern University Medical School discourages the use of candling to clean wax buildup, as it may cause harm to the eardrums and push wax further into the canal.
Things You'll Need
- Ear plugs
- Wax remover
- White noise machine
