Many of our tinnitus patients have reported that they have been told nothing can be done for their tinnitus and they just have to live with it. While it is true that there is no cure for tinnitus, there are several options for a tinnitus patient.
Tinnitus is caused by either a temporary or permanent condition. So, viewing tinnitus as a symptom rather than a chief complaint can help health care providers find the root cause of a patient’s complaints of tinnitus.
There are several factors that can be the root cause of tinnitus. These factors are not limited to:
- High blood pressure
- Heart Disease
- Ototoxic medication
- Wax impaction
- Meniere’s disease
- Acoustic tumors
- Stress and Anxiety
- TMJ disorder
- Hearing loss
Finding and treating the root cause of a patient’s tinnitus can help the patient find relief from the bothersome noise in their head in many cases.
But, treatment options do exist for those who suffer with chronic tinnitus. The primary objective for all currently available tinnitus treatment options is to lower the perceived burden of tinnitus, allowing the patient to live a more comfortable, unencumbered, and content life.
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) provides a list of management options for those who suffer from chronic tinnitus on their website. You can check out the full list here: https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/treatment-options
But, in the meantime, some of the management options the ATA lists include:
- General Wellness – The perceived intensity of tinnitus can fluctuate depending on many factors, including the patient’s overall well-being.
- Hearing Aids – Tinnitus is overwhelmingly connected to some level of hearing loss. Augmenting the reception and perception of external noise can often provide relief from the internal sound of tinnitus.
- Sound Therapies – Tinnitus is a non-auditory internal sound. But patients can use real external noise to counteract their perception and reaction to tinnitus. Sound masking can cover the sound of tinnitus, while more advanced therapies may provide more robust relief. Sound therapies can even be programmed into hearing aids.
- Behavioral Therapies – Tinnitus can generate strong, negative emotions like anxiety, depression, and anger. Patients can learn to control their emotional reactions and thereby disassociate tinnitus from painful negative behavioral responses.
An Audiologist that specializes in tinnitus can help a patient with chronic tinnitus onto the best path of treatment. To schedule a consultation with our Audiologists regarding your tinnitus, call (814) 941-7770 and discover what treatment option is best for you.
