Tinnitus treatment

There are many different approaches to treating the symptoms of tinnitus—some are aimed at preventing the development of tinnitus, while others address the symptoms once they have already developed.

Treating underlying health conditions

In some cases, it is possible to address treatable conditions associated with tinnitus symptoms. A healthcare provider will identify any underlying conditions and recommend steps that may help improve your symptoms. Some of these treatments include:

• Earwax removal: Impacted earwax can decrease your ability to hear and lead to tinnitus. Removing a blockage can decrease tinnitus symptoms.
• Treating a blood vessel condition: Some vascular and circulatory conditions can cause pulsatile tinnitus. Symptoms may be improved by taking medication, undergoing surgery, or finding other ways to address the underlying issue.
• Changing your medication or dosage: Some medications have been known to cause tinnitus. If your healthcare provider determines that your medication may be causing your symptoms, he or she may recommend that you stop taking the drug, reduce your dose, or start taking a different medication instead. Do not stop taking your prescribed medication without consulting your physician first.

Auditory aids and other therapies

When tinnitus becomes frustrating, white noise may be used to mask phantom noises. Some devices that can help suppress tinnitus sounds include:

• White noise machines: These tabletop devices produce pleasant simulated environmental or ambient sounds like ocean waves, rain, or a hum. Playing these sounds louder than your tinnitus noises may help draw your attention away from your symptoms. Other noise-producing devices like fans or humidifiers may also provide similar relief.
• Wearable sound generators or masking devices: These small electronic devices fit in the ear and deliver soft white noise to help mask tinnitus sounds. While some people want the masking sound to completely overpower the sounds of their tinnitus, it’s more common to keep the device at a volume that is just a bit louder than the tinnitus.
• Hearing aids: Hearing aids can help make tinnitus less noticeable by augmenting the volume of the sounds in your external environment.
• Cochlear implants are often used in people with tinnitus accompanied by severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants^[20] bypass damaged portions of the inner ear and send electrical signals to directly stimulate the auditory nerve.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy, or TRT, is based on the assumption that tinnitus is caused by abnormal neuron activity. This treatment uses a combination of individual counseling/education and sound therapy. A device is inserted in the ear and generates low-level sounds that match the pitch, volume, and quality of the tinnitus.
• Acoustic neural stimulation is relatively new. This treatment uses a palm-sized device and headphones that deliver individually programed tonal music in order to mask your tinnitus’ frequency and stimulate change in the brain’s neural circuits, eventually desensitizing you to your tinnitus.
• Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs are sometimes prescribed to improve tinnitus-related depression or to help treat insomnia.

Lifestyle and home remedies

There are a number of adjustments that can help alleviate symptoms of tinnitus that cannot be treated. Some possible ways of improving your symptoms include:

• Avoiding irritants: It’s important to avoid things that may worsen your tinnitus symptoms, including loud noises, caffeine, and nicotine.
• Maintaining background noise: Using a white noise machine or turning on a fan or television may help mask your tinnitus noises.
• Managing stress: In some cases, stress can worsen tinnitus. Keeping your stress levels low through exercise, meditation, and other techniques may relieve some of your symptoms.
• Biofeedback, a particular relaxation technique, involves using electrodes attached to the skin to measure physiological information like pulse, skin temperature, and muscle tension. By monitoring this information, patients can learn to change their thoughts, feelings, and bodily responses to stress.
• Reducing alcohol consumption: Alcohol can worsen symptoms of tinnitus, as it dilates your blood vessels, increasing the force of your blood, particularly in the inner ear.

Tinnitus medication

Talk to your healthcare provider about possible medications.

Tinnitus prevention

As tinnitus is commonly caused by hearing loss, protecting your hearing from damage is important. There are a number of practices that may help prevent developing tinnitus:

• Using hearing protection: Prolonged exposure to loud sound can damage auditory nerves. If you work with power or construction tools, are a musician, attend concerts, or are exposed to loud machinery or firearms, always wear hearing protection (over-the-ear or inner ear plugs).
• Turning the volume down: Listening to amplified music without ear protection or playing music through headphones at a high volume can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Maintaining good cardiovascular health: Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and taking steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent blood vessel disorders linked to tinnitus.

Coping and support for tinnitus

Sometimes, tinnitus symptoms can be so severe that they impact day-to-day life and mental health. Moreover, symptoms don’t always improve with treatment. There are a number of resources that can help you deal with the stress of tinnitus. Some ways to help cope with tinnitus include:

• Counseling: Licensed therapists and psychologists can provide tools and coping techniques to help you learn to live with your tinnitus. Some counseling programs also offer educational resources on tinnitus. Talking with a mental health care professional can help you address problems that are often linked to tinnitus, such as depression, anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping.
• Support groups: Tinnitus support groups^[21] offer the opportunity to share your experiences and concerns with others who also have the condition. There are both in-person and online^[22] tinnitus support networks. In order to ensure that the information provided by your support group is accurate, it is best to choose one that is facilitated or lead by a qualified healthcare professional.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT gives patients tools to build coping skills. This therapy uses techniques like cognitive restructuring and relaxation to change your thinking about and response to tinnitus.
• Education: There is plenty of patient information^[23] on tinnitus available both online and from healthcare professionals. Educating yourself about tinnitus is one of the best ways to help you learn to cope with it in a way that is right for you.

Is there a tinnitus cure?

Unfortunately, there is no complete cure for tinnitus. However, research into tinnitus is ongoing and treatment options^[18] are improving. There are a number of ways in which you can manage^[19] your tinnitus symptoms. In some cases, addressing the underlying causes of tinnitus—such as bone abnormalities, earwax blockages, or problems with the eustachian tubes—can help improve symptoms. Treatment (such as hearing aids), along with patient support and counseling, can help make managing and living with tinnitus easier.