Although Tinnitus is not a serious condition, it can significantly affect a person’s quality of life if it’s too loud and it doesn’t go away. It can result in anxiety, fatigue, depression, and other health conditions. This is why it’s important to treat it as soon as possible.

However, how exactly do you treat Tinnitus? Find out here.

Science-based Tinnitus Treatments

Here’s a list of Tinnitus science-based treatments can help improve your condition:

Behavioral Therapies

Some conditions, such as Tinnitus, have no cure. In these cases, the only options patients have are finding ways to live with the condition and make their lives more manageable. One of those ways is through behavioral therapies. For example:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Evidence suggests that Tinnitus is related to high emotional stress levels. This is why it’s quite common to see that people with Tinnitus also have insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

In these cases, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT, can help. It’s a talk therapy that helps patients learn how to live with the condition. Instead of teaching you how to reduce the sound, this therapy focuses more on helping you to accept and live with it.

• Progressive Tinnitus Management

Progressive Tinnitus Management is a behavioral therapy specifically designed for those with Tinnitus. It is a therapeutic treatment program offered by the US Department of Veteran affairs because it’s one of the most common conditions among armed services veterans. This is mostly a result of all the training and loud noises during war times.

• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Another behavioral therapy designed for Tinnitus is TRT. It takes advantage of the brain’s natural ability to habituate a signal to filter it out on a subconscious level.

TRT treatment is composed of two parts. The first part involves playing neutral sound everywhere the patient will go using in-the-ear generators. The second part is one-on-one counseling with a professional.

Sound-based Therapies

One way of treating Tinnitus is by identifying the underlying cause. Sound-based therapies are highly recommended in cases where the underlying cause is hearing loss. Some of the sound-based therapy options of people with Tinnitus include:

• Sound-masking devices

These devices offer pleasant external noise that can distract the patient from the internal noise caused by Tinnitus. There are many kinds of devices for this ranging from wearables to tabletop sound machines.

• Hearing Aids

One of the most common underlying conditions causing TInnitus is hearing loss. When you lose your sense of hearing, your brain transforms its way of processing sound. Hearing aids can help with this.

These small devices use amplifiers, microphones, and speakers to increase the external noise volume. It can aid the brain in the change that it’s going through. At the same time, hearing aids also allow you to hear better so that you don’t notice the sounds caused by Tinnitus that much.

Medication

There is no specific medication for Tinnitus. However, there are medications for some of its symptoms, making it bearable.

These medications include:

• Antidepressant

Antidepressants can play a significant role in reducing Tinnitus-related symptoms. Several antidepressants increase serotonin levels which suppress the effect of GABA neurotransmitters, reducing symptoms of Tinnitus.

• Anti-anxiety drugs

Anti-anxiety drugs can help make Tinnitus symptoms more tolerable. An example of what’s likely to be prescribed to you by doctors is Alprazolam. This drug can also help relieve insomnia, a common symptom among those with Tinnitus.

Alternative Tinnitus Treatments

Aside from the treatments above, there are other alternative treatments for Tinnitus. These could also be used along with other treatments.

Some of the alternative tinnitus treatment options that you might want to consider include:

• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture
• Nutritional supplements
• Homeopathic remedies

However, take note that these treatments are not backed by science. These are just recommendations based on the testament of Tinnitus patients and what helps them improve their conditions. 

Final Words

Tinnitus is a condition that can significantly affect a person’s day-to-day life, especially in severe cases. Luckily, several treatment options can help improve the condition. Although these treatments are not specifically for Tinnitus, they can help address the symptoms that come along with it.

To find the most suitable treatment for you, it’s best to consult your doctor. They will provide you with expert guidance on how to treat Tinnitus.