Tinnitus Management Strategies

According to the American Tinnitus Association, over 50 million adults experience tinnitus. An estimated 20 million of those people experience tinnitus severe enough to impact their daily lives. So, what is tinnitus? And, if you are someone who suffers from tinnitus, what are strategies to manage it? 

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is ringing or other noises (whooshing, buzzing, etc.) in one or both ears. These noises do not come from surroundings or from outside of your ear(s). Tinnitus can be caused by other conditions and for some people it will improve by treating the condition causing it. It is important to consult your doctor to determine if the underlying cause of tinnitus can be treated or managed. Causes can include exposure to loud noises, age, diet, or hearing loss. 

Tips for Managing Tinnitus:

1. Check for underlying conditions. Conditions like hearing loss may be managed with hearing aids. If you aren’t sure if you have hearing loss, schedule a baseline hearing test!
2. Check the side effects of your medications and discuss with your prescribing physician. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to cause tinnitus in some people.
3. Learn what triggers your symptoms. Take notes on when you notice tinnitus most. Quiet environments often aggravate tinnitus. These environments can be managed with noise machines like fans and can help make tinnitus more manageable at night while falling asleep. 
4. Talk to a professional. Coping techniques can be learned through licensed mental health professionals. Cognitive behavioral therapy may be able to help you learn to cope with tinnitus.

If you or a loved one is experiencing tinnitus, there are management options available to you. We encourage you to schedule a hearing test if you are noticing any ringing, rushing, buzzing, or other abnormal noises in the head or ears. 

Learn more about how hearing aids may help with tinnitus.