Tinnitus Treatment – The Best Treatments For Mild To Severe Tinnitus

Because tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a disease in and of itself, there are many different treatments for those who have problems with it. In order to find an effective treatment for one’s tinnitus, it is necessary to examine the root cause first. A doctor may run a number of tests and take a detailed patient history before recommending a specific type of treatment which may or may not be effective.

Medications

Although there are a number of medications on the market which claim to reduce the ringing, buzzing, and other noises caused by tinnitus, few of them actually work. There are certain anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications which have been known to work for some people who have tinnitus.

Although depression and anxiety alone cannot cause tinnitus, these issues have been known to worsen it for some people who have this problem. While these medications do not work for everyone with tinnitus and depression or anxiety, they have been known to be effective for some.

There have been numerous studies involving the drug gabapentin and when it is administered to people with tinnitus in high doses, it was found to reduce the overall intensity of the noises which they perceived, though it did not decrease the volume of the sounds. Niacin has also sometimes been recommended in the treatment of tinnitus for some, though there is still no hard definitive scientific proof that it helps with this problem.

Lifestyle Changes

There are certain lifestyle changes which one can make to reduce the intensity and annoyance level of tinnitus. A person’s diet plays a fairly important role in how bad their tinnitus is overall. By consuming more caffeine on a regular basis, it is more likely that the sound will be louder. Smoking is another unhealthy habit which should be given up, especially for those who have problems with tinnitus because of how it can contribute to the noise that is perceived.

Because caffeine leads to increased heart rate and blood pressure, it therefore can create a louder noise to occur. Those who have tinnitus should avoid caffeine as much as possible, as well as certain over-the-counter medications like Aspirin.

Those who have tinnitus because of long-term noise damage will want to avoid being in situations where their hearing is compromised, such as at a concert or other situation without the proper protection for their ears. Ear plugs are a must for anyone with tinnitus when going into a place with a high decibel count. It will be imperative to prevent any further damage to the inner ear as well as hearing loss and intensified phantom sounds.

It will also be extremely important to keep stress, anxiety, and depression to a minimum. Sometimes these things can worsen tinnitus significantly, so it is therefore important to take all the necessary measures to reduce one’s stress level on a regular basis.

While it is true that stress, anxiety, and depression cannot cause tinnitus by themselves, they can make it worse for the person who has this particular problem. When a person is stressed, all of the little annoyances in life become magnified, including things like ringing or buzzing sounds in the ear from tinnitus.

There are certain relaxation techniques which can be tried for those who have tinnitus and are also under a lot of stress. Breathing exercises can be immensely helpful for those who are stressed and have this condition. Meditation can be another useful thing to try for anyone who has tinnitus and also a high stress level. It tends to help in clearing one’s mind and lowering anxiety and the stress that tends to come with everyday life.

Masking the Noise

Sometimes when the actual noise that a person with tinnitus is hearing cannot be lessened with regards to volume or intensity, the best solution is to block is out as much as possible. Those who only have moderate tinnitus will most likely be able to mask the noise they are constantly hearing with a white or pink noise machine, television, or fan. All of these things can be good at blocking out the noises which are caused by a number of things in people who have tinnitus.

Although masking agents are not a means of treating or curing tinnitus, they can help those who have these issues get to sleep at night and relax more. There are certain white noise machines which can be purchased and they can create a more relaxing atmosphere when trying to sleep with sounds of the rainforest and other tranquil scenarios.

Natural Remedies

While there may be a lot of false advertising for supposedly “natural remedies” targeted at tinnitus sufferers, some of them do work. Ginkgo Biloba is one natural remedy for tinnitus sufferers which has worked for some, though controlled studies still have yet to prove its effectiveness. Whether or not Ginkgo Biloba works for someone with tinnitus depends on a number of factors, including the root cause of their tinnitus.

Behavioral and cognitive therapies have also been known to work in the treatment of tinnitus. There are certain tinnitus centers across the country that can provide multidisciplinary programs for those who are interested in getting this type of treatment. Certain studies have shown that this type of natural treatment can be extremely helpful in reducing the intensity of tinnitus symptoms and helping the person who has it to get the relief they need.

Zinc supplements are another good natural remedy for tinnitus. Studies have shown that many people who have tinnitus also have a zinc deficiency, which means that some people who have this problem could benefit from zinc supplements. This is an important nutrient and can have a profound effect on how the body functions if it does not get enough of it.

Although not all natural remedies work for those who suffer from tinnitus, some of them can. Those who have tinnitus should always try to find a natural remedy or treatment for their problem before turning to other solutions with possible side-effects which can be dangerous or unhealthy.