Are There Treatments for Tinnitus?

There’s a constant ringing or buzzing in your ears.

And it won’t go away.

If you’re one in 25 million Americans and experience those symptoms, you likely have tinnitus, a malady of the auditory pathway.

Are there treatments for tinnitus?

While scientists have not been able to figure out a treatment or cure for tinnitus, there are some therapies and treatments available to help tinnitus sufferers better cope with the constant ringing.

• Hearing aids: One type of treatment is hearing aids. Hearing aids are typically prescribed to people who have hearing loss in conjunction with their tinnitus. By being able to hear better, some people report noticing their tinnitus less.

• Counseling: Counseling can help individuals learn to live with their tinnitus. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), most counseling programs contain and educational aspect that enables individuals to understand what occurs in the brain to cause tinnitus. Another component of counseling includes working to change the way one thinks about and reacts to their tinnitus. To help change the habit energies related to the negativity around tinnitus, counselors will teach individuals techniques to be better able to relax during the day and fall asleep at night.

• Sound generators: Sound generators are electronic devices that make sound to help drown out the perceived ringing. Wearable sound generators fit within the ear and emit a soft, pleasant sound to help mask the tinnitus. The sounds range between soft white noise, random tones or music. Another type of sound generator is a tabletop sound generator. These are great options for nighttime when trying to fall asleep. A tabletop sound generator usually emits pleasant noises, like waves, waterfalls, rain or the natural sounds of a summer night. Many tinnitus sufferers employ a tabletop sound generator when trying to fall asleep at night.

• Acoustic neural stimulation: This form of treatment is relatively new. This technique is for people who suffer from loud and endless tinnitus. According to the NIDCD, acoustic neural stimulation uses a palm-sized device and headphones to deliver music with embedded acoustic signals. The acoustic signals help stimulate change in the neural circuits of the brain, eventually desensitizing an individual from tinnitus.

• Cochlear implants: These devices could be an option for individuals who have severe hearing loss in conjunction with tinnitus. A cochlear implant works by bypassing the damaged areas of the inner ear and sending electrical signals directly to the auditory nerve, where it is stimulated. With cochlear implants, outside noises help mask the tinnitus while also working to change how the neural circuits respond.

• Medications: Lastly, medications are also an option for treatment. Medications don’t actually treat the tinnitus, but taking antidepressants or antianxiety drugs can help to improve one’s mood and sleeping patterns.

Before engaging in any therapeutic measure for your tinnitus, it’s important to contact your hearing care provider to rule out maladies causing that ringing in your ears.