What are your tinnitus treatment options?
Diagnosis of Tinnitus
Anyone who has Tinnitus should visit a specialist for evaluation and examination before treating the condition because many conditions, diseases, environmental factors, etc. can cause it. You cannot opt for a specific treatment unless the cause of Tinnitus is clear. The diagnosis may include:
- Examination of the head, torso, neck, and ear
- Hearing tests
- Laboratory blood tests
- Imaging studies
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Tinnitus Treatment Options
The first step in treating your Tinnitus is to visit a Tinnitus specialist who will diagnose your condition and find out the causes of its occurrence. If your ear problem relates to another health condition, your doctor will treat that problem. In most cases, treating the underlying cause helps overcome Tinnitus as well. Otherwise, the doctor will suggest you other non-medical treatments, such as therapies, or masking the unwanted noise. In some cases, Tinnitus would go away without any specific treatment. In other cases, you might have to go for therapy to get rid of the condition.
For instance, if earwax blockage is the reason for your Tinnitus, the specialist will clean your ears with a suction device. Clearing the wax will relieve you from Tinnitus. If the ear infection is causing you Tinnitus, drops like hydrocortisone and antibiotics will treat your Tinnitus.
1. Through Habituation Techniques
Our brain subconsciously habituates some sound signals that it considers unimportant, such as the noise of gentle rain, computer fans, air conditioners, etc. TRT therapy works by continuously hearing some pleasant sound and eventually drowning the ringing sounds.
2. With the Help of Masking
Masking devices are just like hearing aids, but they play a pleasant sound in your ears to help you fight Tinnitus. These devices drown out the ringing of Tinnitus with sounds such as white or pink noise. Some masking devices can mask the condition and act as hearing aids at the same time.
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3. Through Medications
A variety of medicines can help you take care of the causes of Tinnitus, some low-dose anti-anxiety drugs like Elavil or Valium, for example. In some situations, inserting steroids into the ear along with an anti-anxiety medicine (alprazolam) can be helpful.
4. With the help of Hearing Aids and Implants
A hearing aid can also be helpful if your Tinnitus is due to the loss of hearing. The hearing device will help you cope with the loss of hearing, which will eventually treat Tinnitus.
If the cause of Tinnitus is a hearing problem due to damage to the cochlea, the specialist will recommend cochlear implants. This surgery helps in treating severe deafness. It works by sending signals to your brain from the ears. Cochlear implants have helped many patients who had Tinnitus due to hearing loss.
5. Through Dental Treatment
Temporomandibular joint or TMJ disorder can also lead to Tinnitus. A TMJ disorder is the result of the dislocation of the TMJ. This joint is near the inner ear, and some of the sensory nerves passing through this joint reach the brain to perform the hearing function. When this joint is misaligned, it damages your nerves, causing a hearing disorder. A specialist can help you with your condition by aligning your jaw and relieving you from TMJ disorder, and eventually treating Tinnitus.
6. Through Stress Management
The biofeedback technique can help you with stress management. It can be helpful as your reaction towards Tinnitus is changed.
7. Through Counseling
To treat Tinnitus, a specialist may also use this counseling method to help you modify your reaction to Tinnitus. This way, you can ignore the sound of Tinnitus. Cognitive therapy can boost the performance of Tinnitus medication and Tinnitus masking techniques.
Conclusion
Visiting a specialist is essential in treating your Tinnitus, as the occurrence of this condition may indicate a severe disease or some other serious medical condition. Tinnitus is an indication that something is not right with your body, and after diagnosis, you can treat that condition to treat Tinnitus as a result.
You can find a Tinnitus treatment specialist by contacting us at (646) 213-2321 or visiting our clinic for an appointment. Our specialist, Stephen Katz, can examine your condition to help you with the best treatment.