Tinnitus is a condition that causes you to hear a noise that isn’t there. There can be a number of different causes for this condition, though it is often due to an exposure to excessive noise. This could be anything from work conditions to the music you listen to on your MP3 player. If you have been diagnosed with tinnitus by an audiologist, you might be interested in the potential treatment options. While there is no cure, there are treatment possibilities available for people with this condition.

Hearing aids

Hearings aids are another treatment option that an audiologist might recommend for your tinnitus. While not always the case, tinnitus can be an early sign of hearing loss and evidence that you have lost the ability to hear a certain frequency or pitch. As such, it’s possible that you can use a hearing aid to elevate the noises around you and thus improve your quality of life.

Hearing aids can also benefit people with tinnitus who do not have hearing loss. Again, they can be used to mask the noise and ensure that it doesn’t impact your ability to sleep or indeed your concentration. Hearing aids may not be covered by your insurance so you should speak to your audiologist about the cost and options available to you.

Sound machines

One of the possible treatment options is to mask the noise that you can hear due to your tinnitus. This could be anything from a ringing, buzzing, whistling or even a brief excerpt of music. It is possible to drown these noises out if you find the noise that matches the frequency. It’s possible to get a medical-grade device that allows you to do this. This could be a hearing aid or an implant and you can speak to your audiologist about this possibility. However, be aware that the cost can often be considerable. For this reason, you might want to explore possibilities that you can set up yourself.

Anything can be used to drown out the noise from a fan in your bedroom to a white noise machine. You can even leave the TV on at a low volume. The object of this is to allow you to concentrate or even fall asleep. If you are exploring this option, be aware that neutral sounds will typically be more effective.

Tinnitus retraining therapy

Another possibility would be to explore the option of cognitive therapy. With cognitive therapy, you can essentially train your mind not to recognize tinnitus consciously.  Your brain actually is constantly doing this with other sounds so it is a possibility. Do you ever wonder why you don’t always hear the ticking of the clock? Technically, your ears can hear it but your brain doesn’t register it because it’s a normal background noise. Therapy can help you do the same with the noise caused by your tinnitus. It does take practice and determination but it is a possibility.