Around 10-15% of adults globally have tinnitus requiring medical evaluation and treatment. The problem is there aren’t any clearly successful treatments for everyone who suffers from this annoying to debilitating disorder and much research and studies are needed to figure out how to treat tinnitus. For now, it’s best to do everything you can to avoid damage or further damage.

Tinnitus is a condition in which the person suffering hears ringing in their ears. It’s an internal ringing that causes distraction, sleep disturbances and sometimes pain. For some, tinnitus is mild and merely annoying. For others, the symptoms can become so frequent and painful that it truly interferes with their lives.

Tinnitus most often occurs as a result of age-related or noise-induced hearing loss. On occasion, certain medications such as courses of antibiotics, cancer drugs and aspirin can cause temporary tinnitus. Build-up of earwax may also cause tinnitus.

For the latter cases, the symptoms usually clear when the medications are ceased (if they can be) or when the earwax is removed. For age-related or noise-induced tinnitus, tinnitus is usually permanent.

There are some ways tinnitus can be relieved. As we just learned in our last blog, not all of these suggestions are as effective as others.

1. Hearing aids: They amplify hearing to serve as a distraction from the internal ringing.
2. Avoid further damage or excessive noise with noise-reducing earplug (musician’s earplugs, foam earplugs)
3. Avoiding stimulants (Likely not, see our previous blog)
4. Background or white noise (another distraction method); can use custom earphones to “drown” out the ringing yet protecting your ears from further damage
5. Therapy to help with relaxation
6. Medications for relaxation, depression or anxiety

Treating tinnitus has no “one-size-fits-all” approach, so it’s important to work with your healthcare provider and find the appropriate treatment for your tinnitus so you don’t have to continue suffering. Above all, continue to stay apprised of all the latest research. As we learned with our last blog, what was advised yesterday may not be the best means to treat tinnitus.