There is no universal cure for tinnitus, but there are treatments that make it less of a distraction. The treatment should be customized to each individual patient. There are alternate treatments that have worked for people that suffer from tinnitus.
Acoustic/Sound Therapy
Sounds are used to cover up, or mask, the tinnitus. This distracts your brain and helps you “tune out” the ringing in your ears. Other sound therapy can utilize a portable sound generator that produces soft patterned tones to help desensitize the brain to the sounds of tinnitus.
Hearing Aids
Hearing loss causes maladaptive neuroplastic changes in the brain. Hearing aids are used to stimulate the auditory pathways received by the brain. Background sounds can mask tinnitus. Hearing aids can also help the patient better distinguish one sound from another, improving communication and helping with focus and concentration difficulties. Many devices also come packaged with noise generators to replace ambient sounds if amplification alone does not reduce tinnitus.
Alternative
Relaxation methods can be practical in helping you manage your tinnitus symptoms by reducing the stress and anxiety that are often associated with tinnitus. Southwest Idaho ENT providers teach methods to help you manage your tinnitus symptoms.
Call Southwest Idaho ENT at (208) 336-4368 for more information or to schedule an appointment.