Tinnitus Treatment Options

Those who have tinnitus are familiar with the constant presence of sound. Although the brain receives the message that sound is present, that stimulus comes from within the body. This presence can be quite disorienting and frustrating, particularly for those who have loud sounds accompanying them throughout life. For many, the symptoms of tinnitus come and go throughout the day. When there is lots of activity and other things to occupy the mind, tinnitus can fade into the background. However, the quiet hours at home right before falling asleep can be the greatest challenge for those with tinnitus. Without any other sounds to mask tinnitus and a mind that is trying to fade into sleep, that sound can become quite distracting, frustrating, and even infuriating. Let’s take a closer look at the two main types of tinnitus and the treatment options for each. The good news for those with tinnitus is that professional treatment options are rapidly improving, making it possible to get the help you need to relieve or reduce these symptoms. 

Types of Tinnitus

There are two main types of tinnitus, each with different treatment plans. The first type, objective tinnitus, is the less common of the two. A doctor or expert can use specialized instruments to hear this sound within the body. The sound may originate from a bone or blood vessel close to the ear that has a medical issue. The treatment for this type of tinnitus is to seek medical attention. Only a physician can remedy the underlying issue, and in many cases the symptoms of tinnitus will be relieved when the underlying health issue is treated. The other type, subjective tinnitus, is much more common. Only the individual can hear this sound, and some refer to the sound as ringing, whirring, buzzing, pulsing, humming, whooshing, roaring, or even clicking. Subjective tinnitus is caused by damage to the tiny hairlike organelles of the inner ear called stereocilia. These fragile cell clusters can be easily bent, broken, or otherwise damaged. In some cases, they are permanently disabled to cause hearing loss at that frequency of sound. In other cases, they are turned “on” creating a constant sensation of sound that only the brain can “hear.” Treatment options for subjective tinnitus are more complex, ranging from home remedies to professional treatment.

Treating Tinnitus

Once your physician has confirmed there is no underlying medical issue, you can pursue methods of treating tinnitus right at home. Many find relief by masking their symptoms, and methods of masking this sound vary from person to person. Some simply turn on a television or radio at a quiet volume before falling asleep, giving the mind something else to process rather than tinnitus. Others in the home might find this sound distracting, and it can also keep the mind alert to be listening to this music or the voices on television. Some mask tinnitus with a box fan or other appliance, but there are specially designed devices to produce white noise or the sounds of nature to assist with falling asleep. Although these methods can be helpful in the quiet of one’s own home, they tend not to be portable solutions. Those who have tinnitus symptoms that bother them throughout the day will need to pursue other methods of treatment that can move through the world. Many of the latest hearing aids come equipped with tinnitus treatment programming, as well. These devices work by matching the sound of tinnitus and reversing the “phase relationship” of that soundwave. By directly copying and reversing the soundwave, the brain perceives that the sound is cancelled out. It can take some time to program these hearing aids to precisely match all the tones of tinnitus, but many find relief from this method. If you are interested in finding out more about professional tinnitus treatment, you only need to give our offices a call. We can give you a hearing test to diagnose any other hearing-related issues and then walk you through the options for tinnitus treatment, as well. If tinnitus symptoms are causing you stress or discomfort, don’t delay making the call. We are here to help you with all your hearing and tinnitus treatment needs.