How to get started with tinnitus sound therapy

Tinnitus, also known as "ringing in the ears," is quite common. According to the American Tinnitus Association, about 20 million Americans suffer from chronic tinnitus, with two million suffering from severe and incapacitating cases. Regrettably, there is no known cure, and finding enough relief frequently necessitates a combination of treatments. Tinnitus sound therapy is one of the most well-established therapies.

The Best Brain Health, Anti-tinnitus, And Hearing Improvement

What is tinnitus sound therapy and how does it work?

Tinnitus sound therapy retrains the brain's perception of tinnitus through a process known as habituation. The brain essentially learns to reclassify the undesired sound as neutral or irrelevant.

“You can hear a sound that sounds just like your tinnitus—like crickets—but when you go camping in the wilderness and hear the crickets, it has a different meaning,” Christina Lobarinas, Au.D., tinnitus coordinator for the UT Southwestern Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Program, explained. “When the sound is constant and your brain is confused as to where it’s coming from, that’s when the tinnitus sound becomes bothersome.”

Sound therapy aids in the "forgetting" of the sound. That may appear difficult, yet your brain accomplishes it all the time.

"It's like when you put your spectacles on and your nose [nerve endings] start giving signals to the brain that there's something on your nose," Dr. Lobarinas explained. "After a while, you don't remember how you felt."

There are a variety of procedures and sound kinds that can help, and an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus therapy can go over all of them with you. Selecting a calming, neutral sound—such as ocean waves crashing, rain pouring, white noise, or instrumental music—and playing it as background noise throughout the day is a frequent approach to begin with sound therapy.

"The tinnitus becomes associated with this sound after a while," she explained. "'It's consistent, it's meaningless, it's not something I need to pay attention to,' says the brain. It's simply a passive method of suppressing a sensory reaction by shifting it from the conscious to the subconscious level."

How do I start tinnitus sound therapy?

Dr. Lobarinas recommends downloading a free tinnitus app to get started. "The idea is not to turn up the volume to the point where it drowns out the tinnitus sound." You don't want to cover it up. "The goal is to retrain the brain such that you must hear both the tinnitus and the sound you're playing in order for the brain to establish that link," she explained.

Two further elements to success are consistency and frequency. Dr. Lobarinas suggests listening to the sound for at least four hours each day, including while sleeping.

Hearing aids and other sound treatment instruments

Although sound therapy isn't pricey in and of itself, your audiologist may recommend hearing aids. Hearing aids increase the volume of external environmental noise, allowing your nervous system to process more information. More auditory stimuli to the brain can aid in the reduction of tinnitus perception. In addition, many hearing aids have tinnitus masking technology built-in, which an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist may program for you.

Keep in mind that tinnitus is frequently an early indicator of hearing loss. Tinnitus can be reduced by treating hearing loss as soon as possible.

Who is a candidate for sound therapy?

Sound therapy is appropriate for almost everybody who is plagued by tinnitus.

"If we can cure the medical problem that's causing the tinnitus, the tinnitus will go away," Dr. Lobarinas stated. "Anyone who perceives their tinnitus to be irritating would be an excellent candidate for sound treatment if there is no medical problem."

Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of auditory and medical issues, including Meniere's disease, middle ear blockages, head and neck trauma, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), blocked ears, sinus pressure, and barometric trauma, and autoimmune disorders, to name a few.

Find a tinnitus expert.

Make an appointment with your primary physician or an ENT if you believe you could benefit from tinnitus sound therapy. Consult an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus retraining therapy in your area once they've ruled out any contributory medical conditions. Because not all hearing clinics address tinnitus, you may need to look through many clinic sites to find the suitable one.

And make a long-term commitment. Sound therapy is a gradual therapeutic method that works best when used in conjunction with educational counseling. It could take two to three months to detect any changes, and up to a year before the tinnitus becomes unnoticeable.

Tinnitus treatment based on behavior

Many people find that cognitive-behavioral therapy, in addition to sound therapy, is helpful in coping with the emotional effects of tinnitus. "CBT treatment for tinnitus control is the most evidence-based treatment option so far," according to a review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology.

'Rejoice in minor wins.'

"A lessened emotional response to the tinnitus or a shift in pitch or volume are markers to look for," Dr. Lobarinas recommended. "Rejoice in small wins. "Even if it's a small step forward, it's a step forward

The Best Brain Health, Anti-tinnitus, And Hearing Improvement