Treatment of Tinnitus

To date, there is no known cure for tinnitus; however, it may be the result of a treatable disease. Therefore, it is important to seek medical advice for tinnitus before deciding on a management approach. There are a wide variety of tinnitus management procedures available which offer sufferers varying degrees of relief. 

Some Tinnitus Treatment Options:

• Amplification: Hearing aids, when appropriate, may provide tinnitus sufferers with relief as they amplify speech and environmental sounds drawing the focus away from the tinnitus.
• Maskers: Masking devices resemble hearing aids; however, they introduce an alternate ("shh") sound into the wearer's ear(s) which may be perceived as a more acceptable sound then the tinnitus. Bedside devices, listening to the radio, tapes or CD's or running a fan at night may also be effective distracters for some sufferers.
• Drug therapy: There is no single medication that works best for all sufferers. Medications that have provided relief for some patients include: anticonvulsants, antianxiety medications, tranquilizers, vasodilators, and antihistamines. It is advisable to always consult a physician before beginning any drug regimen. 
• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): TRT is designed as a way to retrain the brain to ignore the tinnitus. TRT services are typically provided by a health care specialist, usually an audiologist. The course of TRT treatment is typically one year or longer and has successfully provided relief to many sufferers.
• Alternative Options: Some tinnitus patients have also found relief using biofeedback, acupuncture, vitamin supplements, or chiropractic manipulation.

Tinnitus May Become Worse

• Excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine
• Loud noises
• Fatigue and stress  

It is best to avoid these stimulants when possible and to get plenty of rest and exercise to help minimize the symptoms.