Tinnitus is a term used to describe the symptom of perceiving sounds such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, roaring or pulsing in the ears. The sounds are generated by the auditory system in the brain, rather than the ears. Tinnitus sounds may occur occasionally and infrequently or persistently and almost constantly. Having tinnitus is not physically harmful, but it can cause symptoms of stress in some people. Tinnitus is common. The American Tinnitus Association estimates that "over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. Of these, about 12 million have severe enough tinnitus to seek medical attention." There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments and methods you can use to cope with the sounds so that they bother you less or cease to bother you entirely.
Step 1
Learn how to cope with the sounds in your ears by going through cognitive-behavioral therapy. During cognitive behavioral therapy, a therapist teaches you how to train your mind to react less negatively to the tinnitus sounds. After reviewing multiple scientific studies on cognitive-behavioral therapy and tinnitus, the ENT Department at John Radcliffe Hospital concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven beneficial for tinnitus sufferers.
Step 2
Attend a tinnitus support group where you can share your feelings with others who understand what you are going through and discuss different coping techniques that are working for people in the group.
Step 3
Undergo tinnitus retraining therapy, commonly called TRT, with an audiologist. TRT was invented by Professor Pawel J. Jastreboff. It combines educational counseling about tinnitus with sound therapy using in-the-ear noise generators that produce broadband white noise. In-the-ear noise generators look like and are worn like hearing aids. The goal of Jastreboff's TRT is not to simply mask tinnitus sounds; the therapy habituates the auditory system to noise, making tinnitus noises less noticeable to the wearer. Combination hearing aid and sound generator devices are available for tinnitus suffers who also have hearing loss. TRT following Jastreboff's protocol is a more effective treatment for tinnitus than sound masking, Phillips JS, McFerran D. wrote in "Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) for Tinnitus", published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Step 4
Mask tinnitus noises when they are bothering you by listening to music or a white noise machine, commonly called sleep machines. An alternative to using a white noise machine is to turn a fan on in your room. The constant "shh" sounds fans make sound similar to the noise produced by white noise machines.
Step 5
Reduce stress in your life as much as possible. Stress can decrease your ability to cope with tinnitus. Get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly and reduce or eliminate caffeine intake to help relieve stress.
Step 6
Ask your doctor about taking anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications to help you deal with anxiety or depression caused by your tinnitus. Discuss the pros and cons of taking the medications with your doctor. Medications may offer anxiety and depression relief, but some medications are ototoxic, meaning they can cause or worsen tinnitus.
Tips and Warnings
- Tinnitus can occur in people with normal hearing and in people with hearing loss.
- Visit your doctor if you have tinnitus symptoms to rule out an underlying cause. Certain medications, earwax impaction, exposure to loud noises, hearing loss, TMJ, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Lyme disease and fibromyalgia can cause tinnitus symptoms.
References
- American Tinnitus Association: ATA's Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Tinnitus; ENT Department, John Radcliffe Hospital; Martinez-Devesa P, Perera R, Theodoulou M, Waddell A.; September 2010
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) for Tinnitus; Phillips JS, McFerran D.; 2010
- "Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model"; Pawel J. Jastreboff, Jonathan W. P. Hazel; November 2004
