How is tinnitus treated? Is relief possible?

The sound of tinnitus can vary in pitch and loudness or stay the same. It may be a tone or a noise, a roar like a seashell roar, a chirp, hiss, or click or a combination of some of these. It may "beat" as your heart beats. The sounds may be louder in one ear or occur only in one ear. It may prevent sleep, or wake you from a sound sleep. It may be louder in the morning and late at night. However bothersome your experience of tinnitus may be, there is hope for relief from this condition. Tinnitus treatment varies and, at Appalachian Audiology, is highly individualized.

 

Treatment varies based on the status of hearing, the presence of hyperacusis or mysophonia, phonophobia or recruitment, evidence of Meniere's Disease, suggestion of chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction, TMJ problems, history of vascular disease, deficiency in B-12, zinc, and/or magnesium. Additionally, vertigo or dizziness may shape treatment options.

 

These treatment services result in a success rate of 85-90%:

1. Information and counseling. Often, learning that tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease, what makes it so bothersome, and how you can get relief is enough. But not for all.
2. Current tinnitus treatments focus on sound sensitization and efforts to shape the brain sound generator.
3. One theory advances a masking strategy. For some, the sound should be steady and very soft, for others, the amplitude should vary. Different devices/signal generators are demonstrated. The idea is that sounds wired together fire together, and certain sounds will break the unity, create "chaos" in the site and cause the tinnitus to subside.
4. Those who have experienced chronic disease, pain or illness will recognize the potential value in Mindful Meditation. This, in fact, is the treatment primarily recommended by Harvard Medical School and implemented at the Tinnitus Clinic at Mass General Hospital. Some will choose to learn this centuries old method of dealing with a variety of intrusions to the body as an additional asset in reducing tinnitus.

The treatment can focus on the sounds, and/or the effects of the sounds, such as interrupted or poor sleep, concentration dificulties, depression and anxiety, and stress.    

For more information, visit the tinnitus section of our website.


 Image provided courtesy of Free Digital Photos.