How to Manage Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition in which there is a ringing or buzzing in the ears. It is often caused by exposure to loud sounds for long periods of time. Ringing or buzzing may be heard either on a constant basis or from time to time. Volume can also vary; each person with this condition experiences these symptoms differently. About 50 million adults in the U.S. experience tinnitus. For most it is not serious, but in some cases it can be severe. When tinnitus is severe, people can experience trouble concentrating and difficulty sleeping.

Instructions

How to Manage Tinnitus

• 1

  Avoid complete silence. A silent room can enhance tinnitus. Try playing low music or using white noise such as a fan when you find yourself in a quiet room. This may be especially helpful when trying to fall asleep. There are also white noise machines available that play a variety of soothing noises such as ocean waves and heartbeats.

• 2

  Manage tinnitus with certain medications. Some anti-anxiety drugs such as Elavil or valium have been shown to help. Lidocaine has also been known to help tinnitus, but this medication must be given intravenously. If you are looking for something you can obtain over the counter, try ginkgo biloba, although medical studies have not verified its effectiveness in treating tinnitus.

• 3

  Practice Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). This method of treatment can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months but has been shown to be very effective. TRT consists of the person with tinnitus playing a neutral sound all the time and wearing in-the-ear sound generators. It also includes one-on-one counseling with a person experienced in TRT. TRT mostly uses the brain's capability to "habituate" signals and filter them so that they do not reach a conscious state or awareness. The ultimate goal is to habituate sounds we hear all the time such as air conditioners or refrigerators without registering the sound, just like people without tinnitus do.