Hi,
Let’s start with the most obvious thing first – before you start contemplating the different types of tinnitus treatments, you should really first consult with your doctor and have him determine the severity of your condition. The hearing system is one of the most delicate and sensitive mechanisms in the body – so it stands to reason that any treatments centred around this part of our anatomy should be exercised with extreme caution.
But that being said, listed here are some of your more common methods of treating tinnitus:
1. TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) -
Basically TRT is a counseling technique with the goal of having a patient habituate to the tinnitus sound (in the same manner that we habituate to everyday sounds and can therefore effectively tune them out – such as not being able to hear the refrigerator motor whilst watching television). Patients who have emerged successfully from TRT often report that they can only hear their tinnitus if they concentrate on hearing it, and if they do hear their tinnitus they are not bothered by it. The tinnitus is therefore treated as a “neutral” signal. Habituation will be brought about with two conditions: the removal of negative associations of the tinnitus using education and counseling and avoiding silence via low-level “neutral” sounds.
2. Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is aimed at rehabilitating the muscles in the middle ear and stimulating the brain. Sound therapy challenges the ear with constantly alternating sounds of high and low tone whilst at the same time, progressively removing low frequency sounds from the music so the ear is re-introduced to high frequencies. The aimed for result is a rehabilitation of the ear, improving the tone and responsiveness of the middle ear muscles. These alternating frequencies will happen in the background befind a foreground noise of ocean waves or rainfall.
Sound therapy is not pitched as a cure for tinnitus but rather as a means of improving middle ear health, which may bring some relief from tinnitus.
3. Herbal Treatments
Various University studies have all cited Ginkgo Biloba, Black Cohosh, Hawthorn, and Melatonin as herbs which can help with the relief of tinnitus.
4. Aromatherapy
In instanced where problems with blood circulation are symptomatic of tinnitus, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies recommends four essential oils: rosemary, cypress, lemon, and rose. These oils can be administered with a head massage, a vaporizer, or an aromatherapy diffuser.
5. Nutritional Therapy
Niacin, Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Zinc have all been shown at various times to have a positive effect when it comes to relieving tinnitus. Supplements containing these vitamins and minerals should only be taken after medical consultation.
There have also been claims made that alternative tinnitus treatments such as hypnosis and magnet therapy have been shown to have a positive impact – although none of these methods has been through any type of exhaustive clinical trial.
All The Best,
Stephen
