Tinnitus is an ear condition that many people find difficult to handle. It is often apparent to certain people as ringing, humming, clicking, or hissing in the ear, and is always there.  For others, it can come and go.  It is the sense of sound when there is no external noise.

Tinnitus is not a disorder or illness in itself, but a manifestation of an auditory system problem. It can be caused by a variety of factors, the most prevalent of which is noise-induced Hearing impairment.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for it, and in some instances, it will go away on its own. For others, it is something that needs to be managed for life.  The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to control it and make life more bearable with it.

Strategies for dealing with tinnitus

Hearing aids

In many cases, tinnitus is synonymous with Hearing Loss. As the hearing loss advances, the brain changes the way it handles sound. Your audiologist can look at whether fitting you with a hearing aid can help you to manage your hearing impairment and therefore minimize the impact of tinnitus. It helps to modify the frequency of external sounds and can help to improve the way your brain processes the sound. , Generally, the more external noise you can hear the fewer tinnitus sounds you take notice of, so it eventually fades away into the background.

Behavioral management

Tinnitus can be associated with high levels of psychological stress. Because of its presence, many people with this condition often have depression, anxiety, and insomnia, as tinnitus can be intrusive and feel like it is taking over all aspects of your life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT as it is otherwise known, can be of benefit to those who undergo it and help them find ways to handle it and cope with it in their lives. Rather than treating tinnitus, CBT will help enhance other aspects of your life and avoid it from being the primary concern.

Relaxation strategies

For many people, this is not as easy as it sounds, but as discussed above, stress may be strongly associated with tinnitus. By seeking ways to relax and unwind, you may not be able to get rid of the tinnitus, but you can train your brain to deal with it much more effectively    A calm mind is better suited to cope with the issues. Some people turn to yoga or meditation; others prefer to take part in mindfulness practices such as drawing or doodling. Even if this does not help with tinnitus, it will enhance the overall quality of your life.

External noise

As conflicting as this might seem, external noise can help you to manage tinnitus.  Ambient noise helps you to concentrate your ears on something beyond the tinnitus and takes away the intrusiveness.  What you listen to is completely up to you; some may like to have a radio in the background, while others prefer more normal or repetitive noises, such as a clock ticking, the sounds of nature, or a whirling fan. You can buy CDs or download playlists for various nature sounds, and white noise machines are available if there is a problem at night time.

Keeping busy

The more you concentrate on something else, the less you dwell on the tinnitus, so staying occupied can be beneficial. Employment, hobbies, and socializing will take your mind off it, even for a brief time, so if you do not have a hobby, it may be time to take one. Combine it with something calming, like yoga, or join a high-energy fitness class with a friend. This will also improve your general health and well-being and help you sleep easier at night-a lot of people who experience tinnitus are unable to fall asleep.

Social contact

Tinnitus and other conditions for hearing loss can leave a person isolated. It is important to know that you are far from alone-it is estimated that as many as 32 per cent of the adult population in the United States have tinnitus. Talking to your family and friends about what you are going through and seeking support groups, whether online or in real life, will make you feel less alone. You can also find ways for other people to treat tinnitus and find a network of people to talk to when you are struggling. Your audiologist should be in a position to point you in the right direction.

Speak to us today

For more information on tinnitus, hearing loss, or how to manage either of them, give our expert team of audiologists at Evolution HEARing a call on Raleigh, NC: (919) 873-3346, Charlottesville, VA: (434) 216-3599, Richmond, VA: (804) 336-3344

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