Top Methods of Tinnitus Relief

When it comes to tinnitus, there are a number of factors that contribute to the development or severity of it. Luckily, there is a wide range of strategies that you can implement with the help of an audiologist to better cope with the issue. Not only can they provide you relief, but they can also help reduce the impact tinnitus has on your mental and emotional health.

Hearing aids

For a lot of people, tinnitus is related to or caused by hearing loss, especially if exposure to excessive noise is an issue. However, even people with normal hearing and tinnitus can experience some relief with the help of a hearing aid. Hearing aids can correct any hearing loss you suffer, which can reduce the tinnitus you experience. What’s more, there are hearing aid sound-masking features to help override the tinnitus noises you are experiencing. If you’re considering using a hearing aid to treat your tinnitus, it’s best to do it with the help of an audiologist, who can conduct a hearing exam to get a much better idea of your needs. They also have a knowledge of the market to help lay out the options that are most relevant to you.

Sound therapy

Sound therapy involves using secondary sources of white noise or gentle music, such as white noise machines, smartphone apps, wearable sound generators and the like. It’s unproven whether this provokes any physiological changes, but many who live with tinnitus have experienced that the noise acts as a distraction that allows them to notice the tinnitus less. This can help improve their sleeping at night, as well as lessening the impact on mental health.

Tinnitus retraining therapy

This option often uses sound therapy as part of a larger effort to tackle not just the tinnitus itself, but the emotional impact that it can have on those who live with it. It will likely involve working closely with your audiologist and might include the use of wearable sound generators or hearing aids. But it has a larger focus on psychological therapy that can help you both consciously and unconsciously ignore the tinnitus noise. Learning tools such as deep breathing exercises and stress management techniques can help you reduce or eliminate your anxiety. This is particularly recommended for those who get no relief from other forms of treatment.

If you’re experiencing tinnitus, you should arrange an appointment with your audiologist. In some cases, they may be able to help find the causes, but mostly they can help you explore treatment options to lessen its impact on your life.