The Top Treatments for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition that can be very difficult to deal with. It’s often described as a high-pitched noise such as a screech, whine or a buzz and can happen at varying times and for different lengths. Some people will only experience tinnitus for a few minutes at a time while others could have it almost permanently.

If you suspect that you may have tinnitus then the best option is to speak to your audiologist. If you believe that your tinnitus may be getting worse or are worried about your tinnitus becoming a bigger issue, then don’t hesitate to book an appointment as soon as possible so that you can handle it the correct way.

In this post, we’re going to look at a couple of treatments that your audiologist will likely suggest in order to deal with your tinnitus.

1. Using hearing aids

Because tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, many audiologists will suggest using hearing aids as a way to filter our the sounds or mask them using a hearing aid. Your audiologist will be able to determine if you are suffering from tinnitus from your hearing examination and will be able to recommend hearing aids that can remedy the symptoms of tinnitus. They may decide to pick a hearing aid that comes with a sound generator that can mask it, or they will adjust the hearing aid settings so that it naturally helps to blur out the high-pitched sounds.

This is one of the simplest ways to mask tinnitus, but if you don’t have hearing loss then there are also other ways to help deal with the symptoms.

2. Using a sound machine

If you don’t have hearing loss then your audiologist will probably recommend a sound machine or a sound generator. These come in various different shapes and sizes and will often produce a soothing noise to help you mask the tinnitus. They can often come in the form of an earpiece that is attached to a device, but an alternative is a machine that can play the noises so that you don’t need to wear anything.

Some sound machines are designed to function as a clock that is used at your bedside. This is because many people find that tinnitus makes it difficult for them to fall asleep, so the feature is baked into a digital clock to help you fall asleep.

3. Undergoing tinnitus retraining therapy

Lastly, there’s the option of undergoing tinnitus retraining therapy. This is often seen as a last resort or an option to choose if you don’t want to use hearing aids or purchase a machine to help you fall asleep. This is a more permanent solution but may require a lot of time and follow-up appointments.

The idea is to help train your brain to ignore the sounds of tinnitus and can have many different results depending on the severity of your tinnitus and the therapy that your audiologist uses. It’s best to speak to your audiologist regarding tinnitus retraining therapy to see what options they can offer you.