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Treatments for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing or other noise in the ears. The condition is quite common, with about 25 million Americans experiencing it at some point, according to the National Institutes of Health. In severe cases, the ringing can be extremely distracting and bothersome, making it difficult to sleep or concentrate. Tinnitus can be caused my many things, including hearing loss, a problem with the circulatory system, an injury to the ear, medications and allergies. Several treatment options are available, and treatment depends on the cause.

  1. Hearing Aids

    • People who have hearing loss may experience some relief from tinnitus simply by wearing a hearing aid to improve their hearing. Some people with tinnitus also get some relief by using a white noise machine that plays environmental sounds (such as that of the ocean) to drown out the ringing. White noise can be especially helpful when trying to sleep. There are also so-called masking devices that can be useful for people with tinnitus. These devices, which are similar to hearing aids, make a continuous low-level noise that helps drown out the ringing or noise caused by tinnitus.

    Medications

    • More than 200 medications are known to cause tinnitus in some people, according to the National Institutes of Health. In many cases, simply switching to another medication that can treat the condition will relieve the tinnitus symptoms. Prescription medications are also available to help treat tinnitus. These drugs, which include tricyclic antidepressants, acamprosate and alprazolam, will not cure tinnitus, but they can help make it less severe or more tolerable in some patients.

    Earwax Removal

    • One of the simplest ways to try and treat tinnitus is to remove an excessive buildup of earwax. Because impacted earwax can cause hearing loss and other ear problems, tinnitus sometimes resolves itself when this earwax is removed. Removing earwax will not help all people suffering from tinnitus, however.

    Other Treatments

    • In cases when tinnitus develops as a result of a problem with the circulatory system or a vascular condition, treating the underlying problem may help tinnitus go away. Depending on the condition, surgery or other procedures may be necessary. In other cases, medication may help treat the condition.

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