Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual outside noise is present. It is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears” but can manifest itself in several ways including buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, and clicking. In some rare cases, patients report hearing music. Tinnitus can be both a temporary condition and an ongoing health issue [1].

The most common type of tinnitus is subjective which means that it is only noticeable to the person who is affected. Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, there are options to manage the tinnitus so patients can live more comfortable, productive lives. Working with an audiologist can lead to successful management of tinnitus.

Hearing aids and devices that deliver sound therapy are just some of the tools an audiologist may use to manage tinnitus.

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Hearing Aids

Many patients develop tinnitus as a symptom of hearing loss, caused either by age, long-term hearing damage, or acute trauma to the auditory system. Patients with hearing loss and tinnitus may find relief from the use of hearing aids which can be effective for several reasons:

• Masking and Attentional Effects- Hearing aids can augment the volume of external noise to the point that it covers (masks) the sound of tinnitus. This makes it more difficult to perceive tinnitus and helps the brain focus on outside noises. 
• Auditory Stimulation- Increasing the volume of external noise also increases the amount of auditory stimulation received by the brain. There may be benefits to stimulating the brain’s auditory pathways with soft background sounds that might not otherwise be heard.
• Improved Communication- Loud tinnitus can make it difficult or even impossible for patients to participate in regular conversation and social activities such as talking on the phone and watching television. Hearing aids help by augmenting the external volume of these activities above the perceived volume of tinnitus [2]. 

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Sound Therapy

"Sound therapy” is a term that may be used in many ways, depending on the clinical setting or individual clinician. In general, sound therapy means the use of external noise to alter a patient’s perception of or reaction to tinnitus. Sound therapy does not cure tinnitus but may significantly lower the perceived burden and intensity of it. Sound therapies function in four different ways and different products may emphasize one or more of the following approaches:

• Masking- exposing the patient to an external noise at a loud enough volume that it partially or completely covers the sound of their tinnitus
• Distraction- using external sound to divert a patient’s attention from the sound of tinnitus
• Habituation- helping the patient’s brain reclassify tinnitus as an unimportant sound that should can be consciously ignored
• Neuromodulation- the use of specialized sound to minimize the neural hyperactivity thought to be the underlying cause of tinnitus

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General Wellness

‍The perceived intensity of tinnitus can fluctuate depending on many factors including overall well-being. General wellness does not have a direct impact on the causes of tinnitus, but it can provide strong peripheral benefits that make living with tinnitus feel much easier. General wellness includes a healthy diet, physical activity, social and recreational activity, and stress reduction [2]. 

Learning about tinnitus can be a relief. Contact our practice at 773-777-3277 to see how you can take control of your tinnitus. 

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References:

[1] Understanding the Facts | American Tinnitus Association (ata.org)

[2] Treatment Options | American Tinnitus Association (ata.org)