What are the most effective tinnitus treatment options? Many people misinterpret tinnitus as a disease, but it’s actually a symptom. Tinnitus is the unpleasant clicking, ringing, and hissing sound you feel in your ear. At times, it can get very hard to control and makes you feel uncomfortable. Tinnitus also links to many hearing issues, making it difficult for you to hear properly. Tinnitus treatments include a variety of different behavioral, electronic, and medical therapies. It’s always best to consult with your physician before opting for any treatments. Mentioned below are the different Tinnitus treatment options available.
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Different Tinnitus Treatment Options
1. Behavioral Therapy
The intensity of tinnitus people experience has a lot to do with their emotions. This explains why it is so important to control your emotions to relieve the tingling sound due to tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best way to get a hold of your emotions, thereby controlling tinnitus. A common name for this is talk therapy, which helps people accept the disturbing sound they hear. Instead of getting rid of the sound, the therapy involves learning how to live with it. At the same time, it helps control your stress levels.
Psychological disorders like depression and anxiety are common among people suffering from tinnitus. These conditions make the symptoms worse and vice versa. Hence, it’s important to control it using CBT. You will have professional therapists overlooking this treatment procedure, and within a few weeks, you will feel less irritable in response to different sounds.
2. Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy (TCRT)
Tinnitus retraining therapy is another treatment option. It involves a professional audiologist conducting the therapy. These treatments involve wearing a sound masking device and receiving counseling from a professional. As you hear different sounds, the professional will guide and counsel you through it. The purpose of this treatment is to reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety you experience upon hearing disturbing sounds.
3. Hearing Aids
Tinnitus links with hearing loss as it is one of the symptoms of this condition. To revive your hearing ability, it is best to use a hearing aid. When you suffer from hearing loss, the brain starts perceiving sound frequencies in different ways. For this, a hearing aid is necessary. This device comes with an amplifier, speaker, and microphone. The brain is able to process sounds differently thanks to neuroplastic changes in the instrument. According to a report in The Hearing Review, around 60% of people experiencing tinnitus received relief thanks to the use of a hearing aid.
4. Medications
Numerous antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs can help reduce tinnitus symptoms, giving you some sort of relief. Your doctor can prescribe most of these medications.
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5. White Noise Machines
White noise sound machines are a unique way to treat tinnitus. They do so by producing static and environmental sounds such as sea breeze or waves. These sounds provide a sense of calmness and drown any disturbing noise.
6. Sound-Masking Devices
To reduce the sounds of tinnitus, you can use sound-making devices. This is an electronic tabletop device that plays sounds like nature’s noises, white noise, or any other ambient sounds. These sounds are louder than the static people may hear due to tinnitus. The purpose behind this is to eradicate the sounds slowly. Some people also fit these devices in the ear for better sound exposure.
7. Physical Activity
With tinnitus, it is common to experience a decline in well-being, and it only gets worse. This is why it is crucial to maintain your overall well-being. The best way to do that is by engaging in daily physical activity via a consistent exercise routine. This will help you keep tinnitus-induced symptoms, such as anxiety, depressive mood, and stress, under control. It also allows you to sleep better and stay fit to fight off tinnitus.
Other Treatments
- Ear Wax Removal
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Hypnosis
- Homeopathic remedies
- Acupuncture
- Nutritional Supplements
Tinnitus Treatment Options: Final Words
Tinnitus treatments are readily available, but make sure you consult with a healthcare professional before acquiring any of these treatments. If you’re opting for behavioral therapies, make sure you seek them from a professional with years of experience.
For the best tinnitus treatments, visit the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York City to experience a new chapter of life unbothered by tinnitus-induced symptoms.
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001
Call today for a consultation:
646-213-2321
Dr. Katz fluently speaks 5 languages. All sessions are performed online.