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Cognitive Treatment of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a chronic medical condition characterized by a constant perception of a ringing sound in the ear canal. According to the Mayo Clinic, it affects about 20 percent of all people. It is not a disease in and of itself, but rather a side effect of other conditions relating to inhibited function in the hearing system. Tinnitus can be treated without drugs using cognitive methods by altering the way the ear interprets sound waves.

  1. Causes of Tinnitus

    • Inner ear cell damage is the most common cause of tinnitus. Inner ear hairs, which perform a vital function in ensuring proper hearing function, can also be damaged or broken, in turn causing tinnitus. Hearing loss and ensuing tinnitus can be caused by old age or hearing a very loud sound such as a gunshot very close to the ear. Head injuries and a variety of rare illnesses such as atherosclerosis and acoustic neuroma (the growth of a benign tumor near the ear) can also cause tinnitus. Cognitive treatments can treat tinnitus no matter what the original cause is.

    Cognitive Treatment

    • Drugs and in some cases treatment for blood vessel issues can control tinnitus, but for many, cognitive treatment is the most effective method. A portable white noise machine generates a sound frequency that cancels out the ringing sounds produced by tinnitus. These usually generate a simple, relaxing sound such as a waterfall or a beach. These are usually battery-powered and relatively inexpensive. Hearing aids also usually have a white noise function that cancels the sounds of tinnitus while improving overall hearing function. Masking devices perform a similar function to white noise generators without the loud sound, instead using low-volume white noise.

    Choosing a Cognitive Treatment

    • Visiting an ear, nose and throat specialist (called an ENT doctor) may be an effective step toward choosing the right cognitive treatment for tinnitus. An ENT specialist effectively guide her patients toward the right hearing aids to treat tinnitus. In some cases, it may be more effective and less expensive to use white noise or sound-masking machines in concert with hearing aids to treat tinnitus.

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