Can You Treat Tinnitus?

Many effective treatments work for those suffering from tinnitus, but any treatment is usually performed to treat the underlying issue that is causing the tinnitus in the first place. For example, tinnitus can be caused by hearing loss in some cases, and so hearing aids are the best solution here. The reason for this is that the hearing aids amplify the ability to hear, which means that the ringing is covered up by being able to hear again.

Causes of tinnitus

There are plenty of causes of tinnitus that may require treatment for those who have to deal with it. Let's look at some of the causes and how each can be treated:

Hearing loss by noise: Hearing aids and sound therapy as advised by an audiologist is the best treatment here.

• Wax build-up: Your audiologist can remove the wax for you and relieve the tinnitus that way.
• Specific medication: Certain medications on the market can cause tinnitus as a side effect, so a tweak of the dosage can help the sufferer to deal with the tinnitus.
• Sinus infections: Treatment with antibiotics should relieve the tinnitus because when the infection clears up, the tinnitus no longer needs to occur.
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ): A misaligned jaw can cause tinnitus as there is pressure on the otologic system. Dental treatment and realignment of the bite can help.
• Head & neck injury: A blow to the head can damage the hearing system and treating the physical trauma with physical therapy, osteopathy, and even drug therapy can be the best thing to do.
• Acoustic neuroma: A neuroma can be removed surgically, and the remaining treatment can involve sound therapy to help your hearing to recover.

There are other causes of tinnitus beyond this list, but it's for this reason, it's essential for you to make an appointment with a proper audiologist so that you can get the diagnosis you need.

What if a cause isn't found?

Sometimes, there is no specific cause for the tinnitus, so this means that your treatment plan will concentrate on the management of the condition in the first place. Some of these treatments may include:

• Sound therapy. You will be listening to sounds that will take your mind off the tinnitus ringing.
• Hearing aids. Being fitted with hearing aids may not be something that you expect, but it can make a big difference to the tinnitus that you’re experiencing. This is because the sound is drowned out by amplified sound elsewhere.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy. Training your brain to reroute how you respond to sound can make a big difference to the sound you hear, helping you to have less of an awareness of it.

Treatment for tinnitus is readily available, but only when you speak to your audiologist and get the right diagnosis for your hearing condition. You can find a way to lessen the impact tinnitus has on your life with a trip to an audiologist.